Real Madrid have opened disciplinary proceedings involving Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni following an incident at the club’s training ground.
The event reportedly took place just days before Sunday’s title clash with Barcelona, with Real confirming that Valverde had suffered a cranioencephalic trauma, a form of concussion.
Valverde recovering at home
The club said the Uruguay international had been discharged from hospital and is now recovering at home after reports in Spain claim Valverde was briefly knocked unconscious during the incident.
“Valverde is at home in good condition and will have to remain at rest for 10 to 14 days, as indicated by the medical protocols for this diagnosis,” the statement read.
According to reports, tensions between the two midfielders first surfaced during Wednesday’s training session before continuing into the dressing room.
The situation is then said to have escalated on Thursday after training at Valdebebas, with an alleged verbal argument between the pair turning physical.
An emergency meeting involving club president Florentino Perez, head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and captain Dani Carvajal was reportedly held later that evening.
Valverde denies confrontation in statement
The player has also taken to social media to give his side of the story.
He posted: “Yesterday I had an incident with a team-mate during a training session. The fatigue from competition and the frustration made everything seem blown out of proportion. In a normal locker room, these things can happen and are usually resolved internally without it becoming public knowledge.
“Clearly, someone here is spreading rumors, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion. Today we had another disagreement.
“During the argument, I accidentally hit a table, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital.
“At no point did my teammate hit me, and I didn’t hit him either, although I understand it’s easier for you to believe we came to blows or that it was intentional, but that didn’t happen.
“I feel that my anger about the situation, my frustration at seeing some of us struggling to get through the end of the season, giving it our all, pushed me to the point of arguing with a teammate. I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry because this situation hurts me, this moment we’re going through is painful.
“Real Madrid is one of the most important things in my life, and I can’t be indifferent to it. The result is an accumulation of things that culminate in a senseless fight, damaging my image and leaving room for doubt that they’ll fabricate stories, slander, and add fuel to the fire of an accident.
“I have no doubt that any disagreements we might have off the field cease to exist on it, and if I have to defend it inside a stadium, I’ll be the first. I wasn’t going to speak out until the end of the season.
“We were eliminated from the Champions League, and I kept my anger and resentment to myself. We’ve wasted another year, and I wasn’t in a position to be posting on social media when the only face I had to show was on the field, and I feel that’s what I did.
“That’s why I’m the one who’s most saddened and pained to be going through this situation that prevents me from playing the next match due to medical decisions.
“I always gave it my all, to the very end, and it hurts me more than anyone not to be able to do so. I am available to the club and my teammates to collaborate on any decision they deem necessary. Thank you.”
Clasico preparations disrupted
The incident comes at a difficult moment for Real Madrid ahead of El Clasico at the Nou Camp.
Anything other than a win for Madrid would hand Barcelona another La Liga title with three games remaining.
