Carlo Ancelotti
March 2026
Carlo Ancelotti revealed he sent Federico Valverde a playful message after the midfielder’s hat-trick against Manchester City. Valverde’s three first-half goals put Real Madrid in a commanding position and underlined his growing importance in a more advanced attacking role. Speaking after the match, Ancelotti said he joked that it was a shame Valverde did not have a Brazilian passport. The comment followed a stunning display in which the Real Madrid captain scored his first career hat-trick after going 26 European appearances without a goal.