Real Madrid captain regrets continuing after brutal Atletico challenge as extent of ankle damage emerges

Real Madrid’s night at the Metropolitano turned sour both on the scoreboard and on the receiving end of officiating controversy, with Atletico Madrid winning 2-1. One flashpoint was a late tackle by Atletico midfielder Kang-in Lee on Fede Valverde, which did not lead to a red card or even a yellow despite Madrid’s belief it should have been punished. Spanish outlet El Chiringuito journalist Marcos Benito reported Valverde regretted getting back up, saying he felt he should have stayed down. After the match, Valverde reportedly could barely put weight on his left ankle, described as swollen “like a tennis ball.” He’s expected to miss about two to three weeks.