Valverde Says Real Madrid Backed Him After Training Clash
The club closed its inquiry with €500,000 fines for each player; both are heading to the 2026 World Cup, which has renewed questions about medical care and selection.
Overview
- The training-ground confrontation took place in early May and left Federico Valverde with a scalp wound that required hospital treatment and concussion checks.
- Real Madrid opened a disciplinary file, held interviews with both players and on May 6 imposed €500,000 fines on Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni while issuing no sporting suspensions.
- Valverde has publicly thanked the club and fans for their support and said the episode helped him grow, telling reporters in Uruguay that it can make him a better captain.
- Medical staff placed Valverde on a concussion protocol and he returned to light training before joining Uruguay’s World Cup camp under Marcelo Bielsa as one of the team’s captains.
- Both players are now named in their national squads for the 2026 World Cup, which creates the chance they could face each other on the international stage and keeps focus on Real Madrid’s discipline and player-welfare choices.