Federico Valverde was taken to hospital with a head injury following a heated exchange with Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni, though the Uruguayan insists the pair did not come to blows.
The midfielder stated that the injury, which sidelines him for Sunday’s clash with Barcelona, occurred when he “accidentally hit a table.” He described the incident as a “small cut on my forehead that required a routine hospital visit.”
Real Madrid, who have launched disciplinary proceedings against both players, confirmed that Valverde, 27, has been diagnosed with a cranioencephalic trauma—a form of concussion. The club said, “Valverde is at home in good condition and will need to rest for 10 to 14 days, as per medical protocols.”
The altercation took place on Thursday morning, just three days before a crucial La Liga title showdown with rivals Barcelona, who are poised to claim the championship. Valverde has been ruled out of the match.
In an Instagram statement, Valverde said, “At no point did my teammate hit me, and I didn’t hit him either. I understand it’s easier to believe we came to blows or that it was intentional, but that didn’t happen.” He added that his frustration over the team’s struggles and the end of a difficult season led him to argue with a teammate, calling the situation “a build-up of things culminating in a senseless fight.”
Valverde confirmed that the pair had another disagreement on Wednesday, noting, “In a normal locker room, these things happen and are usually resolved internally. Clearly, someone here is spreading rumors, and with a season without titles, everything gets blown out of proportion.”
An emergency meeting was called for Thursday evening, attended by club president Florentino Pérez, his staff, head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, and captain Dani Carvajal.
Real Madrid have endured a disappointing campaign, sitting 11 points behind Barcelona in La Liga with four games remaining, and exiting the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage. Valverde described it as another “wasted year.”
Any result other than a Real win in Sunday’s El Clásico at the Camp Nou would hand Barcelona a second consecutive league title with three games to spare. The internal discord has added to the team’s difficulties ahead of the fixture.
In their statement, Real said, “The club will provide updates on the resolutions of both proceedings once internal procedures are complete.” Spanish media have reported that staff within the club have described the incident as “the most serious ever experienced in Valdebebas.”
Reports of tension between Valverde and Tchouaméni follow other claims of dressing room disputes at Real Madrid. Earlier in the week, left-back Álvaro Carreras responded to reports of an altercation with Germany’s Antonio Rüdiger. Carreras posted on Instagram, “I…” (the statement was not fully provided in the original text).
