Uruguay will embark on their Asian tour without Federico Valverde. The Real Madrid midfielder, a cornerstone of the team, sustained an ankle injury during the derby against Atletico Madrid and has been ruled out of the trip. Interim coach Diego Forlan has turned to young Palmeiras midfielder Emiliano Martínez as his direct replacement in the squad.
The medical report from Madrid did not specify a recovery timeline, but Forlan explained the decision. "The doctor spoke with Fede, and obviously he’s feeling some discomfort," the manager said. "We understand the circumstances and have to understand that the injury could swell, especially with the travel." This three-match tour, which begins on Wednesday against Japan, will be used to test talent during a period of transition.
New blood and veterans
Forlan's list for the trip blends novelty and experience. Alongside Martínez, three other uncapped players received their first call-ups: Facundo Bernal, Juan Rodríguez and Thiago Cardozo. At the same time, the coach has recalled several team pillars. Central defender Ronald Araujo, currently on loan from Barcelona to Liverpool, returns alongside midfielders Nahitan Nández and Lucas Torreira, whose experience will add steel to the midfield in Valverde's absence.
The competitive context for La Celeste is challenging. After losing 0-1 to Spain in June, the team sits third in the World Cup standings with just two points from a possible nine. Their recent run of five matches without a win, featuring four draws and one loss, highlights the need to find rhythm and confidence. This tour, with games against Japan, South Korea and another Asian opponent, is a vital opportunity to correct course ahead of the upcoming qualifiers.
Fans can check the full tour schedule and recent results history on our fixtures page. The updated squad, featuring the new faces and returns, is available in the squad section. The match against Japan, the first of the Forlan era on foreign soil, will be played this Wednesday, September 24.
First reported at Khel Now
