Real Madrid has fined Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni €500,000 ($589,000) each following a heated altercation during a training session on Thursday.
The confrontation escalated after a practice match, resulting in Valverde sustaining a forehead injury that necessitated a visit to the hospital for a “cranioencephalic trauma.” This injury has ruled him out of the upcoming Clásico against Barcelona.
Notably, this incident followed another earlier in the week, prompting the club to initiate disciplinary proceedings against both players.
“The players expressed deep regret for the incident and apologized to each other,” Real Madrid stated on Friday. “They also extended apologies to the club, their teammates, the coaching staff, and the fans, indicating their willingness to accept any sanctions deemed appropriate by the club.
“As a result, Real Madrid has imposed a financial penalty of €500,000 on each player, concluding the internal procedures surrounding the situation.”
Tchouaméni returned to training with the team on Friday, while Valverde missed practice to recover from his injury.
Sources indicated that the fight erupted following a practice match that included some heavy challenges; Tchouaméni proceeded to the locker room, and shortly after, a visibly tense Valverde entered, leading to the altercation.
In an Instagram statement, Valverde addressed the incident without naming Tchouaméni, asserting that it had been “blown out of proportion.” He clarified, “My teammate didn’t hit me, nor did I hit him. I understand that it may be easier for you to believe the worst about our interaction, but that is not what transpired. I’m truly sorry for this situation; it pains me to see the turmoil we are experiencing.
“Real Madrid is incredibly important to me, and I cannot be indifferent to what happens. This incident reflects various factors that culminated in an unfortunate altercation that tarnishes my reputation and opens the door for rumors and sensationalism regarding what was simply an accident.”
The atmosphere in Madrid’s dressing room has been tense this season, which could end trophy-less for the second consecutive year. Barcelona could clinch the La Liga title if they avoid defeat on Sunday at Camp Nou.
There have been reports of additional tensions within the squad, including a confrontation involving center-back Antonio Rüdiger, though the identity of the other player involved was not initially disclosed. Álvaro Carreras later confirmed he was the other party in that incident.
Conflicts have also arisen between manager Álvaro Arbeloa and several players, including Dani Ceballos and Raúl Asencio, while club captain Dani Carvajal reportedly has a strained relationship with him.
Amid growing friction, ESPN has reported that the club is looking for its fourth manager in two years, with notable candidates including José Mourinho, Jürgen Klopp, Didier Deschamps, Lionel Scaloni, Massimiliano Allegri, and Unai Emery.
Information from ESPN’s Rodra contributed to this report.