When the first reports emerged of a confrontation between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni at Valdebas today, it was alarming.
The update is significantly worse.
This story hasn’t stayed still.
And this has escalated into one of the most extraordinary dressing room incidents in football history.
Valverde hospitalised after Real Madrid dressing room brawl
According to Diario AS, the altercation between Valverde and Tchouameni didn’t end on the training pitch.
It continued inside the dressing room.
As teammates attempted to separate the two players, Valverde fell, hitting his head against a table in the process.
The injury required stitches, and the Uruguayan was taken to hospital for treatment.
He has since returned to the training ground.
But Real Madrid have now opened formal disciplinary files against both players following the incident.
The maximum sanction available internally is a suspension.
However, both have been automatically suspended for Madrid’s El Clasico clash against Barcelona.
The tension between Valverde and Tchouameni was not new.
It had been building behind the scenes for some time.
Kylian Mbappe and Tchouameni were seen pictured laughing leaving Valdebebas, earlier today.
In training on Wednesday, a foul during a drill sparked a confrontation.
The two players squared up and had to be separated on the pitch.
But Valverde reportedly refused to shake Tchouameni’s hand afterwards.
The squad reportedly requested they not train on Friday to avoid further confrontations.
A request that manager Alvaro Arbeloa turned down with El Clasico on the horizon.
However, the wider picture inside Valdebebas is one of near-total breakdown.
As many as six players are said to be not on speaking terms with Arbeloa.
To call situation in Madrid crazy is an understatement.
Rudiger slapped Alvaro Carreras; Mbappe directed angry words at a coaching staff member.
And now Valverde is in hospital with a cut to his head after a fight with his own teammate.
This is no longer a struggling team managing a difficult season.
And the timing couldn’t be more humiliating.
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