Federico Valverde was rushed to the hospital following another physical confrontation with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni, according to reports in Spain. It emerged earlier this week that both players clashed during a training session just days before this weekend's pivotal clash against Barcelona, where a win for the Catalan side would seal the La Liga title with three matches remaining.
Fresh claims suggest a second altercation erupted between the pair on Thursday. The latest incident has been described as 'very serious'. It left Valverde requiring hospital treatment, according to Marca. Sources indicate the confrontation was 'much worse' than their previous bust-up.
The row is understood to have intensified rapidly. Multiple staff members apparently tried unsuccessfully to defuse the situation. Following the incident, the entire Real Madrid squad had to stay at the training complex for an 'emergency meeting' in the changing room. The mood inside the club is reportedly 'extremely tense' with mounting concerns that the issue remains unresolved.
Tensions have been simmering behind closed doors since Real Madrid's Champions League elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich last month. Trouble first flared when Antonio Rudiger reportedly had a heated bust-up with a fellow first-team player at the club's training facility.
Video footage that spread rapidly across social media appeared to show Rudiger slapping Alvaro Carreras during a row that played out in full view of their team-mates. Rudiger later apologised for his behaviour. Around the same period, it emerged that Real Madrid coaches and other club figures were privately questioning Carreras' dedication. He subsequently released a statement about the speculation, saying: "Certain insinuations and comments have emerged about me that do not reflect reality. My commitment to this club and to the coaches I have worked with has been absolute from day one, and it will continue to be so."
Rudiger recently brought his team-mates and their families together for lunch in a bid to clear the air. Shortly after, a fresh dispute broke out between Kylian Mbappe and a member of Real Madrid's coaching staff ahead of the trip to face Real Betis. Whether further flashpoints will erupt in the coming days remains to be seen. The atmosphere at the club appears to be at a boiling point.
