Federico Valverde was undoubtedly the man of the hour for Real Madrid during their dominant first-leg victory over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
Despite a masterclass performance at the Santiago Bernabéu, a specific moment involving a missed penalty has sparked a lot of conversation.
The On-Pitch Conversation: Valverde vs. Vinicius Over the Penalty
With Real Madrid firmly in control with a 3-0 lead, Vinicius Júnior was brought down inside the area, earning a chance to potentially end the tie right then and there. Surprisingly, the Brazilian missed the spot-kick against Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Post-match, the Uruguayan midfielder—who had already netted a hat-trick—cleared up the confusion regarding who was supposed to take the shot.
“Vinicius is a vital player for this squad. He actually approached me and asked if I wanted to take the penalty, but I insisted he take it himself. Many of our teammates felt the same way,” Valverde told TNT Brasil.
Brushing off the miss, he added: “That’s just football. It happens. A goal would have made it a perfect night, but penalties are always a 50-50 chance.”
When Valverde Previously Refused a Penalty Against Manchester City
This isn’t the first time Valverde has stepped aside during a high-stakes moment against the English side. This incident brings back memories of the 2023–2024 Champions League quarterfinals.
After a grueling battle that ended in a stalemate, Valverde was on the list of designated penalty takers but famously opted out due to physical exhaustion.
“If you don’t feel 100%, you aren’t ‘less’ of a player for being honest. That night, I went to sleep regretting that I didn’t leave my mark for Real Madrid, but honesty comes first,” he recalled back then.
