Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde was taken to hospital after a physical altercation with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, according to reports from Spanish outlet Marca. The incident, which occurred in the club's dressing room, has been characterized as an extremely serious episode by those within the organization.
The confrontation between the two players reportedly escalated to the point where other members of the squad had to intervene to separate them. Alvaro Arbeloa, who serves as a coach within the Real Madrid setup, was among those who stepped in to de-escalate the situation. The fact that teammates and staff needed to physically break up the fight underscores the severity of the clash.
This latest incident adds to a growing list of reported tensions within the Real Madrid squad. Earlier reports had already surfaced regarding a conflict between defenders Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Carreras. These episodes paint a picture of a dressing room that appears to be fracturing at a critical point in the season.
Perhaps most concerning for the club is the reported breakdown in communication between players and coaching staff. Sources indicate that at least six members of the squad have stopped speaking with head coach Alvaro Arbeloa. The situation has deteriorated further, with some players reportedly not communicating with each other either, suggesting deep divisions within the group.
The timing of these internal problems could hardly be worse for Los Blancos. After 34 rounds of the Spanish league campaign, Real Madrid find themselves trailing league leaders Barcelona by a significant margin. Barcelona sit atop the table with 88 points, while Real Madrid occupy second place with 77 points — an 11-point gap that appears increasingly difficult to close.
The dressing room discord raises serious questions about Real Madrid's ability to mount any kind of late-season push. With team harmony clearly disrupted and key players involved in physical confrontations, the club faces challenges both on and off the pitch. The hierarchy at the Santiago Bernabeu will need to address these issues swiftly if they hope to salvage what remains of their domestic campaign.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.
