Real Madrid's Fede Valverde was hospitalized after suffering a brain injury following an alleged fight with teammate Aurélien Tchouameni during training. The incident adds to the team's challenges ahead of the upcoming El Clásico.
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Real Madrid's Fede Valverde was hospitalized on Thursday after training -Credit:M Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images
(M Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s chaotic build-up to Sunday’s El Clásico at Camp Nou has taken yet another turn for the worse.
On Thursday afternoon, not only did Los Blancos seemingly confirm that an incident did take place between midfielders Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouameni, but the club also revealed that the former has sustained a serious injury in the process.
While Real kept the specificities of the manner of the widely reported incident close to their chest, it did state, “Real Madrid CF announces that, following the events that took place this morning in the first team training session, it has decided to open disciplinary proceedings against our players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouameni.
Fede Valverde suffered a brain injury after an alleged fight with teammate Aurélien Tchouameni during training.
Valverde was hospitalized due to a serious brain injury sustained during a training incident.
Real Madrid confirmed that an incident occurred between Valverde and Tchouameni, resulting in Valverde's injury.
The incident adds to the challenges faced by Real Madrid as they prepare for the upcoming El Clásico against Barcelona.
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Madrid confirmed that 'disciplinary proceedings' have been opened into Aurélien Tchouameni and Valverde -Credit:Denis Doyle/Getty Images
“The club will announce the resolutions of both cases in due course, once the corresponding internal procedures have been completed.”
This confirms earlier reports that the club planned to open such investigations into the incident and that both players could yet receive severe punishments. Depending on the severity of the allegations and evidence, the player(s) could yet be banned for an extended period or even sold, according to Melchor Ruiz.
The incident in question, as per MARCA, began on Wednesday when Valverde and Tchouameni were involved in an argument at training, before things escalated on Thursday.
The Uruguayan is said to have refused to shake his French teammate’s hand ahead of training on Thursday, before launching into accusations that Tchouameni has been leaking details of their prior argument to the media, via AS.
Tension continued to build throughout training between the two before it all came to a head in the locker room afterward. After Tchouameni supposedly attempted to quell the situation, Valverde refused to back down, leading the former to punch his teammate.
After falling, Valverde was left with a gash on his head, prompting him to be wheelchaired away and ultimately taken to Sanitas La Moraleja hospital, where he received stitches.
Unfortunately, it seems Valverde’s injury is more serious than initially reported, with Real stating, “Following tests carried out today on our player Fede Valverde by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.
“Valverde is at home in good condition and will have to remain at rest for 10 to 14 days, as indicated by the medical protocols for this diagnosis.”
Should the shorter estimate prove manageable, Valverde may yet play again this season with their final two games scheduled for May 17 (Sevilla) and May 24 (Athletic Club).
Valverde has played for Madrid since 2018 -Credit:Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
As for Sunday’s game, it could be the tie to crown Barcelona La Liga champions, with Hansi Flick’s side on 88 points and Álvaro Arbeloa’s in second on 77 with four games remaining.
Both Valverde and Tchouameni will be hoping that this incident does not affect their chances of playing at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to kick off on June 11.