Xabi Alonso insisted on Friday that none of his Real Madrid players have ever refused to play out of position, after Federico Valverde was forced to release a statement denying that he had done so this week.

Valverde was left out of Madrid's 5-0 Champions League win at Kairat Almaty -- a day after reiterating that he "wasn't born to play right-back" -- and faced criticism from some fans for his apparent attitude on the touchline.

In recent weeks, Alonso has also faced questions over his relationship with Vinícius Júnior -- who looked unhappy about being substituted in a game last month -- and Rodrygo , who, ESPN reported , has asked to be considered on the left-wing, rather than the right.

"No player -- not Fede, not Rodrygo, not Vini -- has ever said to me that they d

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