Real Madrid star Federico Valverde is reportedly ‘surprised’ about manager Carlo Ancelotti’s comments regarding him towards the Spanish press.

The Uruguay midfielder started Real‘s 3-1 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

However, he was taken off at half-time along with Aurelien Tchouameni, with Ancelotti making changes in an attempt to get back into the game at 2-1 down.

After the full-time whistle, Ancelotti told the media that he had substituted Valverde due to physical issues.

The Italian said: “It’s very complicated for me. I took him off because he wasn’t at 100 per cent.

“He has been dealing with back issues. He seemed to have recovered because he trained well yesterday, but he didn’t appear to be at his best physical level, which is why I made the change.”

Valverde’s wife posted a series of tweets during the game, in which she criticised Ancelotti for playing the 26-year-old as a right winger instead of in central midfield. However, she later claimed that her account was hacked and set it to private.

Now, according to COPE reporter Javi Gomez, as per members of the player’s ‘closest circle’, Valverde was said to be ‘fine’ after the match, despite Ancelotti‘s claims that he was still suffering with back issues.

It is said that he was ‘surprised by his coach’s words’, and ‘does not understand’ why his manager said that he was having physical problems.

SPORTbible has contacted Federico Valverde’s representatives for comment.

Valverde did train with the Real squad on Thursday, beIN Sports report, and will be available for their fixture against Getafe this weekend.

Ancelotti is still without long-term absentee David Alaba, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in December. He has, however, stepped up his return to training and has started working with the ball again.