Atlético Madrid targeted rival Real Madrid on social media with an ironical statement concerning midfielder Federico Valverde’s recovery from an ankle injury ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, SO FOOT.com reported. The jab arrives three weeks after a fiery local derby filled with officiating controversies and tactical friction.
Social Media Jab Over a Miraculous Medical Recovery
The online sparring started when Atlético Madrid published a pointed post on X, formerly Twitter, taking aim at Real Madrid’s medical staff and previous complaints regarding La Liga officiating. Foot Mercato detailed the exact text of the club’s message: We would like to congratulate Real Madrid for continuing to make history by proving that 100% of the world’s medical community was wrong!
The post featured the hashtags #RecuperaciónMilagrosa (Miraculous Recovery), #ParteMédico (Medical Report), #EsguinceGrado3 (Grade 3 Sprain), and #HistoriaQueTúHiciste (History You Made). RMC Sport noted that the Spanish capital club’s ironic statement directly challenged the severity of Valverde’s reported physical setbacks and the timeline of his return.
The Derby Context and the Challenge on Kang-In Lee
The underlying tension traces back to the Madrid derby played roughly three weeks prior. According to reporting from Foot Mercato, Real Madrid—often referred to as the Casa Blanca—raged against refereeing decisions during that fiery encounter. Specifically, club officials and supporters could not digest a dangerous challenge by Kang-In Lee on Valverde, an incident that Real Madrid argued warranted a direct red card for the South Korean player rather than a lighter sanction.
Valverde subsequently had to rest his injured ankle, facing what initial medical diagnoses suggested could be an extended recovery window given the nature of a Grade 3 sprain. Yet, despite initial pessimism surrounding the midfielder’s availability, the Uruguay international was named in the matchday squad for Real Madrid’s upcoming fixture.
Valverde Returns to Squad for Villarreal Match
The immediate consequence of Valverde’s swift return is his inclusion in the squad for Real Madrid’s upcoming weekend fixture against Villarreal. Yahoo Actualités reported that the swift turnaround put Real Madrid in an awkward spotlight, exposing them to taunts from their Wanda Metropolitano rivals over the perceived discrepancies between severe medical bulletins and rapid pitch readiness.
Atlético de Madrid capitalized on the situation to highlight lingering grievances from their previous encounters on the pitch and in the media rooms. While Real Madrid prepares for the visit of Villarreal with their star midfielder seemingly fit to play, the war of words across social channels highlights the fierce, unrelenting rivalry defining the Spanish top flight this season.
