Federico Valverde has spoken publicly after reports emerged of a heated altercation involving Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni during training. The Uruguay international later confirmed he required hospital treatment following the incident, while the club also announced that disciplinary action had been initiated against both players.
Real Madrid said on Thursday night: "Real Madrid CF announces that, following the incidents that occurred this morning during the first team's training session, it has decided to open disciplinary proceedings against our players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouameni. The club will provide updates on the resolutions of both proceedings once the corresponding internal procedures have been completed."
Valverde has since stated: "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.
"In a normal locker room, these things can happen and are usually resolved internally without it becoming all public. Clearly, someone here is spreading rumours, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion.
"Today we had another disagreement. During the argument, I accidentally hit a table, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital. At no point did my teammate hit me; I didn't hit him either. I feel that my anger about the situation, frustration at seeing some of us struggling to get through the end of the season, giving it our all, pushed me to the point of arguing with a teammate.
"I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry because this situation hurts me; this moment we're going through is painful. Real Madrid is one of the most important things in my life, and I can't be indifferent to it.
"The result is an accumulation of things that culminate in a senseless fight, damaging my image and leaving room for doubt that they will add fuel to the fire of an accident.
"I wasn't going to speak out until the end of the season. We were eliminated from the Champions League, and I kept my anger and resentment to myself.
"We've wasted another year, and I wasn't in a position to be posting on social media when the only face I had to show was on the field, and I feel that's what I did.
"That's why I'm the one who's most saddened and pained to be going through this situation that prevents me from playing the next match due to medical decisions.
"I always gave it my all, to the very end, and it hurts me more than anyone not to be able to do so. I am available to the club and my teammates to collaborate on any decision they deem necessary. Thank you."
Madrid also published an official medical statement confirming: "After the tests carried out today on our player Fede Valverde by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a cranioencephalic trauma. Valverde is at home in good condition and will need to rest for 10 to 14 days, as indicated by medical protocols for this diagnosis."
