At no point did my teammate hit me – Valverde clears air on Aurelien Tchouameni ‘fight’

Federico Valverde has moved swiftly to dismiss speculation surrounding an alleged training ground altercation with Aurélien Tchouaméni, insisting the incident that led to his hospital visit was not the result of any physical clash between the pair.

The Real Madrid midfielder addressed the controversy in a detailed message posted on social media following reports that tensions between teammates had escalated into a physical confrontation during Thursday’s session.

The situation gained further traction after it emerged that Valverde required medical attention and would subsequently be ruled out of the upcoming El Clásico against FC Barcelona.

In his statement, Valverde acknowledged that emotions had boiled over during training but firmly rejected claims that either player resorted to violence.

“At no point did my teammate hit me, I didn’t hit him either,” he clarified, seeking to end mounting speculation that had begun to cast a shadow over the club’s preparations for one of the season’s defining fixtures.

The 27-year-old explained that the incident stemmed from a heated disagreement, compounded by fatigue and the broader frustrations of a difficult campaign.

With Madrid having already exited the UEFA Champions League and falling short of expectations, internal tensions appear to have intensified in recent weeks.

Valverde admitted that the emotional strain contributed to the argument, which ultimately resulted in an accidental injury.

“Yesterday I had an incident with a teammate during a training session. The fatigue from competition and the frustration made everything seem blown out of proportion,” he said.

He went on to describe how the injury occurred, distancing it entirely from any physical exchange between himself and Tchouameni.

“During the argument, I accidentally hit a table, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital,” he added.

Despite the relatively minor nature of the injury, Real Madrid later confirmed that Valverde had suffered a traumatic brain injury, forcing him out of Sunday’s high-stakes encounter.

His absence represents a significant setback for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, particularly given Valverde’s influence in midfield and his consistency throughout the season.

Beyond clarifying the events, Valverde also expressed regret over how the situation unfolded, acknowledging that the incident had damaged both his image and the team’s focus at a critical stage of the campaign. He pointed to the pressures associated with a trophyless season as a contributing factor, noting that scrutiny around the club often amplifies internal issues.

“Clearly, someone here is spreading rumors, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion,” he said, hinting at frustration over how the story entered the public domain.

Valverde further apologised to supporters and teammates, admitting that the confrontation was a product of accumulated tension rather than any deeper conflict.

He emphasised his commitment to the club, describing the current moment as “painful” and expressing disappointment at being unable to contribute on the pitch in the immediate term.