Real Madrid CF has fined midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde €500,000 each following a heated training ground incident that reportedly left Valverde requiring hospital treatment.
The Spanish giants confirmed the disciplinary action on Friday, stating that the financial penalties officially conclude the club’s internal investigation into the altercation.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, Real Madrid decided against imposing sporting sanctions such as suspensions, meaning Tchouaméni remains available for selection ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated El Clásico clash against FC Barcelona.
Valverde, however, will be unavailable after suffering a head injury during the incident. According to the club, the Uruguayan midfielder is expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks, ruling him out of Sunday’s crucial match.
Reports from Spain suggest Valverde was taken to a hospital facility near Madrid’s Valdebebas training centre, accompanied by head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, where he reportedly received stitches for a facial wound.
Real Madrid revealed that both players fully cooperated with the club’s investigation and expressed regret over the incident.
In an official statement, the club said both Tchouaméni and Valverde apologised not only to each other but also to teammates, coaching staff, supporters, and club management.
According to Madrid, the players accepted responsibility for their actions and indicated their willingness to comply with any disciplinary measures the club considered necessary.
Valverde later addressed the incident publicly on social media, attempting to reduce speculation surrounding the clash.
The midfielder explained that frustration and the pressure of competition contributed to tensions escalating during training.
He denied reports suggesting there was physical violence between him and Tchouaméni, stating that he accidentally hit a table during the argument, which caused the cut on his forehead and led to his hospital visit.
“At no point did my teammate hit me, and I didn’t hit him either,” Valverde reportedly clarified.
Spanish media had earlier reported that tensions between both midfielders began during training on Wednesday before continuing into Thursday’s session.
According to reports, the disagreement intensified after Valverde allegedly refused to shake Tchouaméni’s hand before later fouling him in training, with the dispute reportedly spilling into the dressing room afterwards.
The incident comes at a tense moment for Real Madrid, with pressure mounting over what could become a second consecutive season without a major trophy.
Los Blancos currently trail Barcelona by 11 points in the La Liga title race, leaving little room for error as the season nears its conclusion.
Barcelona, managed by Hansi Flick, could secure back-to-back league titles on Sunday if they avoid defeat in El Clásico.
With tensions clearly rising inside the Madrid camp, Sunday’s showdown at Camp Nou now carries even more significance, both in the title race and for a Real Madrid side battling internal pressure as well as fierce competition on the pitch.
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