Xabi Alonso planning to protect key Real Madrid star from excessive fatigue this season

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is set to keep a close eye on Federico Valverde’s workload this season, aiming to avoid overexerting the Uruguayan midfielder and ensure he remains at peak fitness throughout the campaign. 

According to AS, Alonso wants to prevent “draining” Valverde, whose relentless efforts over the past two seasons have pushed his limits.

To put things in perspective, since the start of the 2023-24 season, Real Madrid have played a total of 123 matches, and Valverde has featured in 119 of them, clocking up an impressive 9,808 minutes. 

His physical contribution has been immense, but it also puts him at risk of fatigue-related injuries if not carefully managed.

During the 2024-25 season, Valverde topped the global charts for minutes played, amassing 6,676 minutes across appearances for both club and country. 

This heavy schedule, while an example of his durability and importance, has also raised concerns about burnout.

A constant presence

Alonso will carefully manage Valverde’s minutes. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Valverde’s significance to Real Madrid has only grown with each season. In the 2022-23 campaign, he played 79% of the available minutes, and last season that figure rose to an impressive 89%. 

However, Alonso intends to introduce more rotation to keep his star midfielder fresh. Speaking during the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, the new Real Madrid boss praised Valverde’s qualities while acknowledging the need for balance. 

“I haven’t seen many players with his physical performance. He reminds me of Gerrard. He can play in any position and I’m very happy to coach him. All coaches would like to have a Valverde in the team,” Alonso said.

Real Madrid fans can expect to see Valverde remain a central figure in the squad, but with Alonso’s strategic approach, the aim will be to keep him sharp for the biggest moments of the season, ensuring his trademark energy is available when it matters most.