Another day, another piece of drama at Real Madrid. It has been a challenging week for the Spanish team that on Sunday will meet Barcelona for one of the most anticipated El Clásicos of recent years. In fact, if Barcelona avoid defeat against the side coached by Alvaro Arbeloa, the Blaugrana will be crowned LaLiga champions. Despite the challenging match upcoming, there has been no time for rest for Madrid fans as multiple things off the pitch have increased the level of stress, starting with the recent drama between Real Madrid midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, with the players handed a record fine of €1 million by the club. Let’s take a look at what happened over the past days and how to watch El Clasico on Sunday:
A brawl between players
Real Madrid midfielders Valverde and Tchouameni were involved in two separate physical altercations on Wednesday and Thursday, according to multiple reports. The Uruguayan midfielder reportedly required hospital treatment and received stitches following the incidents.
Real Madrid acknowledged the reports and released the following statement:
“Real Madrid C. F. 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.”
Tensions appear to have carried over from the first incident, as Valverde allegedly refused to shake Tchouameni’s hand after a challenge made by the Frenchman during Wednesday’s clash. That preceded a tension-filled session. In an unprecedented move, the entire squad remained at the training facility for an emergency “crisis cabinet” meeting, according to reports. No players were allowed to leave until the situation was addressed internally with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez personally involved in the decision-making process.
Cadena SER stated that Valverde sustained a head injury during one of the confrontations with the French midfielder and had to leave the Real Madrid training center in a wheelchair. Later on Thursday, Real Madrid verified the head injury of the Uruguayan midfielder in another official statement:
“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.”
Valverde’s statement
Valverde was the first one after the club’s statements to open up about the episode and wrote on his social media platforms:
“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 rumors, 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 end of 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 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”.
Valverde and Tchouameni fined for €1 million
On Friday, Real Madrid have declared that both players have been handed a record fine after both of them appeared to the training ground on the same day:
“Real Madrid C. F. announces that, following the events that led to the disciplinary proceedings initiated yesterday against our players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, both appeared today before the investigator assigned to the case.
During their appearance, the players expressed their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to each other.
Furthermore, they extended their apologies to the club, their teammates, the coaching staff, and the fans, and both have made themselves available to Real Madrid to accept whatever sanction the club deems appropriate.
Under these circumstances, Real Madrid has decided to impose a financial penalty of five hundred thousand euros on each player, thereby concluding the corresponding internal procedures.”
How to watch Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, odds
- Date: Sunday, May 10 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Spotify Camp Nou — Barcelona
- Live stream: ESPN+
- Odds: Barcelona -155; Draw +363; Real Madrid +328
Mourinho back at the club?
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are planning their future. According to multiple reports, Arbeloa has little chances to be on the bench of the Spanish team at the beginning of the 2026-27 season and there are increasing chances to see a comeback of Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese coach already managed the Spanish giants from 2010 to 2013, winning one LaLiga title, one Spanish Supercup and one Copa del Rey. While his future at Benfica will only be assessed at the end of the current spell, Mourinho would be happy to be back in Madrid, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, and he’s only waiting for a decision from his former president Perez, who will personally decide who will be the new coach starting from the summer.
The Mbappe petition
French star Kylian Mbappe, who next month will lead the French national team at the 2026 World Cup, was seen in Sardinia over the past several days as he’s currently granted some time off by the medical staff of the Spanish team, as he can’t be included in the roster.
Still, the timing of the trip seemed unconventional, as there is also an online petition to ask for Real Madrid to sell Mbappe in the summer that has reached over 35 million signatures.
“Madridistas, make your voice heard. If you believe change is needed, don’t stay silent — sign this petition and stand for what you think is best for the club’s future”, the petition says.
The images of Mbappe in Sardinia have circulated over the past few days, when Real Madrid’s weekend win over Espanyol delayed Barcelona’s chance to clinch the LaLiga title. That opportunity now shifts to this Sunday, when Real Madrid will travel to Barcelona after one of the most eventful weeks in their recent history.
