Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has denied making a racist gesture during a goal celebration at the Under-20 World Cup in South Korea.

The Uruguayan scored an equaliser and a goal in the penalty shootout against Portugal as his country progressed to the semi-finals of the tournament.

But in his goal celebration he pulled his eyes back to make them into slits.

“It is not a racist celebration. It was a private celebration for friends,” he later tweeted in Korean.

“I did not have any racist intent. I’d like to apologise.”