Valverde's mother: Fede dreamt for years about the Bernabeu singing his name Real Madrid She spoke with MARCA

Fede Valverde has been a revelation at Real Madrid this season.

The Uruguayan has impressed at a level that nobody expected him to reach this term and now it's hard to imagine Zinedine Zidane's XI without him.

Doris Valverde, the player's humble mother, has spoken to MARCA about her son.

What are you most proud of: your son as a person or as a footballer?

Without a doubt, a person. Fede is humble, he's a good companion and everyone loves him. I think he's a great son, brother, nephew, uncle, friend... He has a big heart.

What do you remember of his early days as a professional with Penarol?

I remember him talking with Diego Forlan a lot. I'm very fond of him [Forlan]. I remember taking my son to training every day then because he couldn't drive himself. I met Forlan and I even wove wool shoes for Martin [Forlan's first son].

Tell us the story of the day Fede dreamt about playing for Real Madrid. Is it true?

Of course. He was four years old. He got up in the morning and said: 'mum, dad, I dreamt I was in a stadium and everyone was screaming for me. They were all dressed in white and spoke differently to us'.

But it didn't end there. When he was 10 or 11 he dreamt again and said 'Mum, that team I dreamt of is Real Madrid. They are Galicians - in Uruguay we say Galicians for all Spaniards.

You suffered and worked very hard. What has Fede taught you about life?

That you always have to work hard to achieve your goals and fulfil your dreams.

What food did Fede love as a child? Do you still cook it?

A milanesa [a breaded meat] with mash. Sometimes I still do it in Madrid.