Midfielder Federico Valverde and forward Darwin Núñez joined the training sessions of the Uruguayan national team on Monday, which is preparing to play against Peru and Ecuador in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

According to the Uruguayan Football Association on its social networks, both players arrived at the Celeste Complex in the morning.

Goalkeeper Franco Israel, midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Nicolás Fonseca, as well as forwards Maximiliano Araujo and Facundo Torres also did so.

Goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, center back Santiago Bueno, full-backs Guillermo Varela, José Luis Rodríguez and Mathías Olivera, midfielders Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Nicolás de la Cruz, as well as forwards Luciano Rodríguez and Cristian Olivera joined the training sessions over the weekend.

Striker Matías Abaldo also did so, who was called up for the first time to defend the senior team.

Núñez, suspended for five matches by the Disciplinary Commission of Conmebol, after his with Colombian fans in a match framed in the semifinals of the last Copa América, was temporarily cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

This Friday, the Celeste will visit Peru in Lima, at the close of the ninth date of the South American qualifiers. On October 15, Uruguay will receive Ecuador at the Centenario in Montevideo.

Despite the arrival of several players, the list of those called up for the two matches was not published. It is expected that coach Marcelo Bielsa will announce the total number of players.

This Thursday, the team will travel to Peru and return to Montevideo on the afternoon of October 12.

The two matches will be played amid a controversy generated by statements made by Luis Suárez on the DSports programme ‘De Fútbol Se Habla Así’, in which he accused Bielsa of mistreatment of players in the squad.

He stressed that there were footballers who asked the Argentine “to at least say good morning to them”, he pointed out that it should not be surprising if more players resign from playing with Uruguay and assured that there are workers linked to the national team such as the kit men or the physiotherapists who cannot enjoy their work.

This Monday, upon arriving in Montevideo, Valverde told the press that what the historic scorer said “is all true” and that the way to solve problems is by talking. EFE