Real Madrid’s tumultuous season has taken another dramatic turn, with midfielder Federico Valverde reportedly hospitalized following a physical altercation with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni in the locker room on May 7, 2026. The incident occurred just days before a crucial El Clasico clash against Barcelona, where a defeat would see their rivals clinch the La Liga title.
According to Cadena SER, the confrontation led to Valverde slipping and hitting his head on a table, resulting in a serious cut that required hospital attention. Crucially, the injury was not a direct blow from Tchouameni, Cadena SER confirmed. Several teammates reportedly witnessed the heated exchange.
The fight erupted at the conclusion of a training session, which had featured some particularly heavy challenges, an ESPN source revealed. “Tchouaméni went to the changing room, and Valverde then entered, looking very tense. That’s where they got into a fight,” the source told ESPN.
Further details emerged regarding the build-up to the confrontation. “Valverde kicked Tchouaméni during training, then they insulted each other, and Tchouaméni went for Valverde,” a second ESPN source stated. The tension between the two players is not new, with an ESPN source indicating, “The tension between them started when Xabi Alonso was still at the club.” This long-standing animosity was exacerbated earlier on the day of the incident when Tchouameni reportedly extended his hand to Valverde, who refused to accept it, escalating the already strained atmosphere.
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Club opens disciplinary file
In response to the incident, Real Madrid has swiftly opened an expediente, or disciplinary file, for both players, Cadena SER reported. Sources close to the club indicated that both Valverde and Tchouameni are expected to face “the maximum possible” sanction from the club.
This latest episode plunges Real Madrid further into crisis during what has been a deeply frustrating season. The club appears set to finish without any silverware, having been eliminated from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Bayern Munich and suffering a Copa del Rey Round of 16 defeat to Segunda Division side Albacete Balompie. Interim manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who took over after Xabi Alonso’s sacking in January, has reportedly faced challenges, with claims earlier in the week that six players were refusing to speak to him. This locker room fight also follows a separate altercation between Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Carreras, which Carreras publicly confirmed.
Sources: www.sportbible.com, cadenaser.com
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