MADRID – Real Madrid has been plunged into a state of internal crisis just days before the season-defining El Clásico, as the club launched formal disciplinary proceedings against midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni following a violent altercation at the Valdebebas training complex.
The confrontation, which occurred during and after Thursday’s session, left Valverde requiring hospital treatment for a facial wound. According to official club statements, the Uruguay international suffered a head injury but is in stable condition. However, he has been ordered to rest for at least 14 days, effectively ruling him out of Sunday’s high-stakes clash against Barcelona—a match where the Catalans could mathematically secure the La Liga title.
Escalation and Injury
Tensions between the two stars reportedly began during Wednesday’s training session and reached a breaking point on Thursday morning. Witnesses suggest the friction reignited when Valverde refused to shake Tchouaméni’s hand, allegedly accusing the Frenchman of leaking details of their previous day’s disagreement to the press.
The dispute spilled over into the locker room following a session marked by aggressive tackles. Reports indicate that during a physical scuffle, Valverde fell and struck his head against the corner of a table, resulting in a gash that required stitches. Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa personally accompanied Valverde to a nearby hospital for emergency care.
Damage Control
In an effort to quell the firestorm, Valverde took to social media late Thursday to downplay the incident. “The strain of competition and frustration caused the situation to escalate,” he wrote, while insisting that neither player had intentionally struck the other. “I accidentally hit a table during the argument… at no point did my teammate hit me.”
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Despite Valverde’s attempt at reconciliation, the club’s hierarchy has taken a dim view of the “unprofessional conduct.” An emergency meeting led by CEO José Ángel Sánchez was held at the training ground, resulting in the immediate opening of disciplinary files for both players.
A Season in Freefall
The timing could not be worse for Los Blancos. Trailing Barcelona by 11 points and facing a second consecutive season without a major trophy, the atmosphere within the squad is described as “combustible.” This incident follows recent reports of other training ground friction involving Antonio Rüdiger and Kylian Mbappé, suggesting a wider breakdown in squad discipline under the immense pressure of a failing campaign.
