Atletico troll Real Madrid over Valverde injury: 'Miraculous recovery!'

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FT Desk

The fallout from the fiery Madrid derby before the international break continues as Atletico have trolled Real Madrid over Federico Valverde's injury return.

Atletico secured a 2-1 victory at the Wanda Metropolitano in September, with Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen sent off early in the game. However, head coach Jose Mourinho insisted that the hosts should also have seen two players dismissed.

Replays appeared to support his argument over Kang-in Lee’s challenge on Valverde, although Cristian Romero’s 50-50 tackle on Jude Bellingham was far more contentious. During his post-match press conference, Mourinho presented the media with printed images of both incidents to underline his frustrations, offering little insight into his own team’s disappointing performance.

He would, in true Mourinho style, launch an attack against refereeing standards in Spain.

Thereafter, there would be exchanges of statements between Madrid, Atletico and even La Liga President Javier Tebas after referee conspiracies were mentioned.

Madrid then revealed that Valverde suffered a grade three ankle sprain after Lee's tackle which usually keeps a player out for up to 12 weeks.

However, the Uruguayan was back in training after just 17 days out and recuperated with Madrid after pulling out of the international break. He is named in the squad for this weekend's clash against Villarreal.

Atletico sarcastically posted on social media:

"We’d like to congratulate Real Madrid on continuing to make history by proving that 100 per cent of the global medical community was wrong."

The post was followed by mocking hashtags: "#MiraculousRecovery #MedicalReport #Grade3Sprain #TheStoryYouMade".

Queremos felicitar al @RealMadrid por seguir haciendo historia al demostrar que el 100% de la comunidad médica mundial estaba equivocada.

#RecuperaciónMilagrosa #ParteMédico #EsguinceGrado3 #HistoriaQueTúHiciste

— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) October 9, 2026

La Liga war

Tebas responded to an article by Real Madrid-leaning outlet El Debate, which suggested there was a "conspiracy" against Los Blancos.

"Claiming that referees are directed against Real Madrid is living in another galaxy," Tebas said on social media.

"That narrative serves as an excuse to cover up other shortcomings that are plain to see in these first matches of the season.

"It's more comfortable to point to a conspiracy than to explain what's happening on the pitch."

Real Madrid took umbrage with Tebas' comments and released a statement of their own:

"In the face of the demonstrations made by the president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas Medrano, Real Madrid C. F. wants to state the following: Our club considers it intolerable that the president of LaLiga uses his institutional position to continue disqualifying and attacking Real Madrid in the way he does in each of his interventions.

"And it is very worrying that those who have the responsibility to represent and protect the interests of all LaLiga clubs, continue to be repeatedly obsessed with Real Madrid, making our club the permanent object of their public attacks."

Tebas had said: "GET THE BLINDERS OFF! It's September, and they're already calling the League adulterated. No one with common sense buys that old excuse anymore."

That section was particularly offensive to Madrid, who said: "His last intervention is especially serious and incomprehensible, inappropriate for a responsible manager, because he does so by commenting on the article of an independent journalist in a digital medium. However, he reacts against our club, also allowing himself to value our sports strategy, something that is total nonsense and irresponsible."

Real Madrid then apparently called for Tebas to be replaced or for his behaviour to change drastically.

"It is quite surprising that the president of LaLiga dedicates his time and his personal channels to trying to publicly discredit Real Madrid, instead of contributing, from the responsibility of his position, to generate confidence in the institutions that must guarantee the impartiality of the competition," the statement continued.

"In this way, it continues to damage the image of our competition and Spanish football in the world."

"In accordance with this inadequate and sustained behaviour over time, we understand that the professional football competition in Spain urgently needs a leader capable of managing it and developing its full potential with the elementary duty of neutrality. It needs someone who understands the nature of his position, because the president of LaLiga is not the owner of the competition, but a manager at the service of the clubs that integrate it and that entrust him with their direction. The clubs need someone to serve this mission honestly."