Federico Valverde Hospitalised After Dressing Room Fight With Tchouameni as Real Madrid Call Emergency Meeting

Real Madrid are facing a severe internal crisis after a reported physical confrontation between midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouameni left Valverde requiring emergency medical attention, according to reports from Marca.

The incident is said to have originated during Wednesday’s training session, where a heated dispute over a foul laid the groundwork for a more serious altercation the following day. According to reports, tensions between the two players had been simmering before the situation escalated dramatically on Thursday. When Valverde allegedly declined to shake Tchouameni’s hand, a physical fight broke out inside the dressing room. Valverde sustained a cut as a result of an accidental blow during the confrontation, prompting him to seek treatment at an emergency room.

In the wake of the incident, manager Arbeloa has called an emergency meeting in an attempt to restore order within the squad, according to Marca. The atmosphere at the club’s training facilities is reportedly toxic, with multiple players said to have ceased communication with one another. More concerning for Arbeloa’s position, sources suggest that as many as six first-team players have stopped speaking to the manager directly, significantly undermining his authority over the group.

The timing of the internal breakdown could hardly be worse for Real Madrid. The club faces a crucial El Clásico at Camp Nou on Sunday, with Barcelona holding an 11-point lead at the top of La Liga. A result other than a victory for Real Madrid would effectively hand the league title to their arch-rivals. Although a win over Espanyol the previous weekend spared Madrid the prospect of forming a guard of honour for Barcelona, their La Liga campaign remains on the brink.

The primary aim of the emergency meeting is reportedly to establish a temporary truce between the feuding parties and stabilise the squad ahead of Sunday’s fixture. However, the divisions within the dressing room are described as deeply entrenched, raising questions about whether any short-term resolution can adequately address the underlying tensions.

Should the internal discord remain unresolved, Real Madrid risk a damaging performance against a Barcelona side that would be celebrating a league title on home soil. Camp Nou is traditionally one of the most hostile environments in European football, and a fractured squad travelling to face a title-clinching Barcelona side presents a formidable challenge even in normal circumstances.

The reported breakdown in the squad’s cohesion adds another layer of pressure to Arbeloa, whose managerial authority appears to be openly questioned by a significant portion of his own players. Real Madrid have not publicly commented on the reported incident or the emergency meeting as of the time of publication.