Federico Valverde's link with River has long been known in the soccer environment. Whether with traveling photos of him wearing the shirt, his statements or the fact that his wife, Mina Bonino, is a fan of the club, the Uruguayan doesn't hide his sympathy for the Núñez club. However, what he never revealed was where that sympathy came from
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In a recent interview with his partner, the Real Madrid midfielder revealed that his fanaticism originated during his childhood in Uruguay, marked by difficulty accessing local football games.
"For everyone to understand why we talk so much about River and why I have pictures and shirts of River: it's because Uruguayan football wasn't available to everyone at home, it was paid. And I don't know why
Argentine football could be seen. Then, I could never see Peñarol. And, like it or not, you can't inform yourself, you can't see, you can't feel, you can't do anything.
And I saw River every weekend,” he explained
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From that context, he explained how his affinity was built: “That's why I became such a fan or fan of River. Because every weekend, or I grew up all my childhood, watching Argentine soccer. For me, Argentine football was always the best thing.” However, he stressed that his main love is still El Carbonero: “But obviously , I love Peñarol because my family was all from Peñarol
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Beyond his love for the Argentine club, Valverde was forceful when referring to his future and the chance to play in South America: “Before closing my football career, I would love to win something in Peñarol. In other words, something important and in Uruguay. I would also like to arrive healthy and not to sell smoke, but it is something obvious, because going to be a burden, going to steal money, no, that's it. What's more, I would even go for free... But to Peñarol. Not River. To Peñarol for free yes
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In this way, the steering wheel made it clear that, although he has maintained an emotional bond with River since he was a child, his priority when it comes to his possible return to the continent will be placed on the club of his roots.
