According to a report by Madrid Universal on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Federico Valverde’s role has emerged as a major tactical consideration for Real Madrid ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico, with manager Jose Mourinho weighing different options for deploying the Uruguayan captain against Barcelona.

According to Sports, Valverde is expected to feature on the right side of the pitch, although it remains uncertain whether he will operate as a right-back or play in a more advanced attacking position during the highly anticipated encounter.

Real Madrid’s recent victory over Sevilla provided further evidence of Valverde’s effectiveness at right-back. The midfielder also delivered an impressive performance in that position during the club’s Champions League comeback against AS Roma, strengthening his case for another appearance in the role.

Neither Trent Alexander-Arnold nor Denzel Dumfries has fully established himself as the preferred option at right-back, creating an opportunity for Valverde to fill the position. However, Wednesday’s Champions League clash against RB Leipzig could play an important role in determining Mourinho’s final selection for the weekend.

Dumfries is expected to start against Leipzig, leaving the Real Madrid manager to decide how best to utilise Valverde when his team travels to Spotify Camp Nou to face La Liga leaders Barcelona on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Arda Guler’s impressive partnership with Aurelien Tchouameni in the double pivot has provided Madrid with a combination of creativity and defensive stability in midfield. Mourinho must therefore find a way to accommodate Valverde without disrupting the balance established by the pair.

One possibility is to retain Valverde at right-back, while another would involve pushing him further forward into a right-wing position, potentially ahead of Dumfries. Such an arrangement could strengthen Madrid’s defensive cover while allowing the Uruguayan greater freedom to contribute to their attacking play.

Starting Endrick on the right wing against Barcelona appears to be a less likely option. Although the Brazilian forward has demonstrated his ability to influence matches after coming off the bench, he currently appears better suited to providing an attacking impact as a substitute.

Valverde, on the other hand, has considerable experience playing as a winger. He frequently occupied that position during his Real Madrid career, particularly under former manager Carlo Ancelotti, meaning a return to a more advanced role would not be unfamiliar to him.

With Dumfries offering defensive support behind him, Valverde could take advantage of spaces in Barcelona’s backline. His physical strength, acceleration and powerful stride make him particularly effective when carrying the ball into open spaces and launching dangerous attacking transitions.

Mourinho’s consideration of these options reflects the importance of Valverde’s versatility to Real Madrid’s tactical plans. Whether he starts at right-back or operates further forward, his positioning could prove decisive in determining how the Spanish giants approach Sunday’s crucial El Clasico against Barcelona.