Real Madrid midfielder, Federico Valverde, has addressed reports surrounding a confrontation with teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni after the club confirmed disciplinary proceedings had been opened against both players following an incident during training.
The Spanish giants released a statement on Thursday night confirming action had been taken after events that unfolded during the first-team training session.
Real Madrid stated: “Real Madrid CF announces that, following the incidents that occurred this morning during the first team’s training session, it has decided to open disciplinary proceedings against our players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouameni. The club will provide updates on the resolutions of both proceedings once the corresponding internal procedures have been completed.”
Valverde later broke his silence, revealing he required hospital treatment after the altercation while insisting no physical fight occurred between the pair.
The midfielder explained: “Yesterday I had an incident with a teammate during a training session. The fatigue from competition and the frustration made everything seem blown out of proportion.
“In a normal locker room, these things can happen and are usually resolved internally without it becoming all public. Clearly, someone here is spreading rumours, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion.”
The Uruguayan international admitted tensions escalated again during another disagreement, which resulted in him suffering a head injury.
He said: “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 teammate hit me; I didn’t hit him either. I feel that my anger about the situation, frustration at seeing some of us struggling to get through the end of the season, giving it our all, pushed me to the point of arguing with a teammate.”
Valverde also issued an apology over the situation and reflected on the club’s disappointing campaign. According to him: “I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry because this situation hurts me; this moment we’re going through is painful. Real Madrid is one of the most important things in my life, and I can’t be indifferent to it.
“The result is an accumulation of things that culminate in a senseless fight, damaging my image and leaving room for doubt that they will add fuel to the fire of an accident.”
The midfielder added that he initially chose not to comment publicly following the club’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League. He stated: “I wasn’t going to speak out until the end of the season. We were eliminated from the Champions League, and I kept my anger and resentment to myself.
“We’ve wasted another year, and I wasn’t in a position to be posting on social media when the only face I had to show was on the field, and I feel that’s what I did.”
Valverde concluded by expressing disappointment at being unavailable for the club’s next fixture due to medical advice. He said: “That’s why I’m the one who’s most saddened and pained to be going through this situation that prevents me from playing the next match due to medical decisions.
“I always gave it my all, to the very end, and it hurts me more than anyone not to be able to do so. I am available to the club and my teammates to collaborate on any decision they deem necessary. Thank you.”
Real Madrid later issued a medical update on the player, confirming: “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.”
