follow us
Tensions within Real Madrid's dressing room have reached a boiling point ahead of this weekend's highly anticipated El Clásico against FC Barcelona. Midfielder Federico Valverde has been officially ruled out of the match after sustaining a head injury during a training altercation with teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni. The incident occurred during Thursday's training session at the Valdebebas complex, just days before the crucial clash with Barcelona, and followed a previous confrontation between the two players on Wednesday.
Real Madrid confirmed on Friday that Valverde had been diagnosed with cranioencephalic trauma following medical examinations. In a statement, the club reported, “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.” Consequently, the Uruguayan captain will miss the El Clásico, while Tchouaméni reportedly did not sustain any injuries during the incident.
According to sources, the confrontation escalated at the end of training after a practice match that featured several heavy challenges. Tchouaméni initially left the changing room, but Valverde soon followed, appearing visibly tense. Reports indicate that Valverde kicked Tchouaméni during training, leading to a heated exchange of insults before Tchouaméni allegedly struck Valverde. Tensions between the two players have reportedly existed since the tenure of former coach Xabi Alonso.
Spanish outlet Marca previously reported that the two midfielders had a heated argument during Wednesday's session, which carried over into Thursday's training, where the atmosphere was described as “much worse.” Valverde's refusal to shake Tchouaméni's hand upon returning to training further exacerbated the situation. Other teammates intervened during the Thursday clash to prevent it from escalating further.
In response to the growing unrest, head coach Álvaro Arbeloa reportedly convened an emergency meeting to address the tensions within the squad. This incident comes amid increasing scrutiny of the team's atmosphere, with reports suggesting that several players are not communicating effectively with one another or with Arbeloa. The situation has been further complicated by criticism directed at Kylian Mbappé, who faced backlash for a recent trip to Sardinia while recovering from injury. As the pressure mounts ahead of the El Clásico, Barcelona currently holds an 11-point lead over Real Madrid in La Liga, and a defeat for Madrid could officially crown Barcelona as champions this weekend.
