Federico Valverde was taken to hospital and required stitches for a "small cut" following a training-ground bust-up with Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni. The Uruguayan midfielder denied that the pair "came to blows" during the confrontation, but Real Madrid has opened disciplinary proceedings against both players over the incident.
Club Statement and Medical Update
A club statement read: "Real Madrid CF announces that, following the events that took place this morning in the first team training session, it has decided to open disciplinary proceedings against our players Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni." The pair were reported to have fought at the end of Thursday's session, following a previous altercation on Wednesday. Valverde was later revealed to have suffered a head injury that will rule him out of most of Real's remaining games this season.
Valverde's Response
Valverde posted a lengthy statement on his Instagram story, without mentioning Tchouameni by name, insisting the incident had been "blown out of proportion." He wrote: "Yesterday (Wednesday) I had an incident with a team-mate during a training session. In a normal locker room, these things can happen and are usually resolved internally without it becoming public knowledge." He added: "Obviously, there's someone behind this, spreading the story quickly, and with a season without titles where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets magnified."
Valverde explained: "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 team-mate 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."
Medical Diagnosis
Valverde's description of a "small cut" contrasted with the club's medical update, which stated: "After the tests carried out today on our player Fede Valverde by the Real Madrid medical services, he has been diagnosed with a cranioencephalic trauma. Valverde is at home in good condition and will need to rest for 10 to 14 days, as indicated by medical protocols for this diagnosis." This timescale rules Valverde out of Sunday's Clasico, where Barcelona could clinch the title if they avoid defeat, and potentially the remainder of Real's season, which ends on May 24 at home to Athletic Bilbao.
Recent Controversies at Real Madrid
This incident is the latest in a string of controversies at the club. Defender Antonio Rudiger reportedly apologised to the squad for another training-ground clash. Star striker Kylian Mbappe was also reported to have been involved in an angry exchange with a coaching staff member acting as an assistant referee in a training match. Mbappe, recovering from a hamstring injury and a doubt for this weekend's game, has also faced criticism for a trip to Italy with his partner, arriving back shortly before kick-off in last Sunday's win at Espanyol.
