Real Madrid captain a doubt for Racing Santander clash: ‘Not at 100% yet’

Real Madrid captain a doubt for Racing Santander clash: ‘Not at 100% yet’ In what could be a bitter blow, MARCA reports that Real Madrid could be without Federico Valverde for Sunday’s La Liga meeting with Racing Santander after the midfielder completed an individual training session two days before the match. The Uruguayan is still recovering from the discomfort that forced him off during the second half of the Clasico victory over Barcelona, leaving his availability for the trip to El Sardinero uncertain. Valverde faces a decisive fitness test Real Madrid head into the fixture buoyed by their 2-1 win at the Spotify Camp Nou, which extended their winning run to five matches and provided a significant boost in confidence. However, Valverde’s fitness has emerged as a concern as the team prepare for the first of three away fixtures before the international break. The Real Madrid captain played through discomfort for part of the first half against Barcelona before eventually leaving the pitch after the interval. Valverde finished the Clasico with an injury. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) A serious injury was ruled out and the expectation was that he would be ready in time to face Racing Santander on Sunday . Although the problem has been easing, the midfielder was still unable to train normally with his teammates at Valdebebas today. Instead, the 27-year-old followed an individual programme as Real Madrid monitored his recovery. He is expected to undergo a final fitness assessment on Saturday, which should determine whether he can feature against Racing Santander “Not at 100% yet” Valverde was also approached by cameras from El Chiringuito as he left the training ground. The midfielder acknowledged that he had not yet returned to full fitness, saying: “I’m not at 100% yet.” The club captain’s words only add to the uncertainty surrounding his involvement on Sunday. Real Madrid’s immediate priority should be ensuring Valverde is fully fit rather than risking him for a single league fixture. His energy, versatility and influence make him a major asset, but the club have a demanding schedule ahead and will need him for more than just the trip to Santander this weekend. The outcome of the final assessment on Saturday will be crucial in determining whether he travels with the squad, but Real Madrid will be better off not rushing things with their captain.