Tchouameni and Valverde return to training as Real Madrid seek proof of peace

Real Madrid are waiting to see Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde play together again, more than three months after a dressing-room altercation between the two players ended with the Uruguay international being taken to hospital after a heavy blow to the head.

The pair crossed paths again at the club’s Valdebebas training complex on Monday, according to Spanish newspaper AS, following Tchouameni’s return to training after the World Cup and the holiday that followed the tournament.

Time is often said to heal old wounds, while the substantial financial punishment imposed by Real Madrid is also believed to have helped ease tensions between the midfielders. Both players were reportedly fined €500,000 by the club.

However, it has yet to be demonstrated on the pitch that relations have fully returned to normal after the incident, which resulted in Valverde being taken to hospital after striking his head heavily.

Tchouameni and Valverde have both spoken publicly about what happened and accepted each other’s apologies.

“There is no problem. A lot of things happen in the dressing room. We shook hands when he came back and continued working together. We talked, of course…,” Tchouameni told L’Equipe in June.

Valverde has also insisted that the dispute is over and said the support he received had helped him deal with the situation.

“I had the support of a lot of people in what happened, from all the fans, as well as the support of the club. Sometimes you have to overcome obstacles like this in football and in life. We learn from everything. I am sure this will help me become a better leader,” he said.

The players have not shared the pitch since the altercation on 7 May, although they have trained together on two occasions.

Valverde was initially unable to return because of the mandatory medical protocol he had to follow after suffering concussion. He had fallen after being struck by Tchouameni and was subsequently taken to hospital.

Their reunion in competitive action was then delayed by separate muscular problems, which ruled each player out of some of Real Madrid’s final league matches after the outcome of the season had already been decided.

The latest meeting at Valdebebas therefore represents another step in the process of putting the incident behind them. The club will now wait to see whether the two midfielders can resume their partnership in a match, rather than only in training, and show that the episode no longer affects their work together.