Atletico Madrid mock Real Madrid over Federico Valverde's 'miraculous' recovery

Atletico Madrid have openly mocked Real Madrid's medical staff after Federico Valverde returned to full training just 17 days following a diagnosed grade-three ankle sprain. Such injuries typically sideline players for up to 12 weeks.

Taking to their official X account, the club from the Metropolitano posted a sarcastic message: "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."

This public spat adds fuel to the fire following a heated Madrid derby. Real Madrid had been furious over a challenge by Lee Kang-in that went unpunished, though the Technical Committee of Referees later admitted the player should have been sent off. Atletico's decision to doubt the severity of Valverde's injury appears to be a direct response to the ongoing complaints from the Bernabeu regarding that officiating error.

Manager Jose Mourinho now faces a decision on whether to risk fielding Valverde in the upcoming match against Villarreal or to manage his return carefully from the bench.