Doris Valverde, Federico's mother, recalls the first time her child realised he was destined to play for Real Madrid.

"He was four years old," she told Marca. "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."

His dream came true:

Doris will have a grandchild later this year, as Federico's wife Mina Bonino will give birth later this year, as the midfielder shared in an Instagram post.

The Uruguay international has been in the fine form this season, impressing the fans and the media with his performances.

"You fight for this moment," he said in an interview in December. "I worked my whole life to get to this point. I live for football 100 percent."