Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde sustained a head injury during a dressing-room altercation with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni on Thursday, sources at the club have confirmed.
The Uruguayan international was taken to the hospital for treatment of a cut to the head, and the club later confirmed that Valverde would be sidelined for up to two weeks.
A club statement read: "Following tests carried out today on our player Fede Valverde by Real Madrid's medical team, he has been diagnosed with a head trauma. Valverde is at home and in good condition; he will need to rest for between 10 and 14 days, in line with medical protocols for this diagnosis."
The incident occurred at the club's Valdebebas training ground, a day after an earlier altercation between the pair. A Real Madrid spokesperson declined to comment on specifics but confirmed that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against both players.
"Real Madrid announces that, following the incidents that took place this morning during the first-team training session, it has decided to open disciplinary proceedings against our players Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni," a statement said. "The club will announce the outcomes of both cases in due course, once the relevant internal procedures have been completed."
The gravity of the situation prompted an emergency meeting with senior club officials, with no players leaving the training ground for over an hour as the club sought to prevent further escalation of tensions that have left the squad divided at a sensitive time.
This unrest follows another flashpoint earlier this week when defender Alvaro Carreras acknowledged a heated argument with a teammate, though he insisted it was "a one-off incident of no significance that has been resolved" after reports of a clash with German defender Antonio Ruediger.
Madrid's season has unravelled on multiple fronts. Manager Xabi Alonso was sacked mid-campaign, and his successor Alvaro Arbeloa has been unable to prevent the team from sliding towards a second consecutive trophy-less year. Following a Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich, Real trail LaLiga leaders Barcelona by 11 points with four matches remaining. The sides meet at the Camp Nou on Sunday in a Clasico that could seal the title for the Catalans.
