PSG and Man City waiting in the wings to pounce on Valverde as Real Madrid exit talks emerge

Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are closely monitoring Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, according to AS.

His future at Madrid is uncertain following a highly-publicised dressing-room fallout with Aurelien Tchouameni.

The Uruguay international remains one of Madrid’s most valued players, but tensions behind the scenes have reportedly opened the door to fresh interest from Europe’s elite clubs.

At least one long-time admirer recently contacted Valverde’s camp to gauge the seriousness of the situation and determine whether an exit could now become possible.

Until now, any attempt to prise Valverde away from the Bernabeu Stadium had been viewed as unrealistic.

The 27-year-old has consistently made clear that he wants to remain in Madrid and continue building his legacy at the club.

That stance has not changed, even after the recent incident involving Tchouameni.

Valverde is currently recovering from injury and training away from the first team, with reports suggesting he faces between 10 and 14 days on the sidelines.

Madrid have handled the matter internally, issuing only a €500,000 fine and refraining from imposing any sporting punishment.

Despite this, Europe’s heavyweights sense vulnerability.

PSG have maintained a long-standing interest in Valverde and are ready to act if Madrid soften their stance. Any potential deal will cost around €120 million.

Manchester City are also hovering in the background. They explored a move for Valverde last summer before eventually turning their attention elsewhere, but the admiration has never disappeared.

If his untouchable status at Madrid changes, City are expected to re-enter the race immediately.

Despite the noise surrounding the saga, it remains difficult to imagine incoming boss Jose Mourinho willingly sanctioning the departure of such a tactically invaluable player.

Valverde’s relentless work rate, versatility and intensity make him tailor-made for Mourinho’s demands.

While he has angered the dressing room, Madrid would be wiser to try to repair those relationships than to allow one of world football’s most complete midfielders to walk away.