Fede Valverde: The malnourished teenager Real Madrid's medical staff didn't want to sign Real Madrid Reservations over his physical condition

Fede Valverde has officially broken into the Real Madrid first team.

The 21-year-old has been hugely impressive in the opening weeks of the 2019/20 season and is now challenging the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos for a starting place.

However, Los Blancos almost let the Uruguayan midfielder slip through their fingers when they first laid eyes on him.

Having spotting Valverde playing in an Under-17 match in South America, Real Madrid's international department boss Juni Calafat recommended the youngster to the club.

The club's sporting department were keen to sign the 17-year-old, but the medical staff had their reservations about his physical condition.

"He can't sign, he's almost malnourished, his body won't be able to cope," the first medical report said.

[He had] long and skinny legs," Nestor Goncalves told MARCA recently.

Despite the medical team's recommendations, Calafat and the rest of the sporting department insisted on bringing Valverde to Spain - a decision which Real Madrid will be eternally grateful for.