At a glance
- Real Madrid are reportedly studying the possibility of suspending midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde.
- On Thursday, the players had a second confrontation which resulted in Valverde having to go to hospital.
- They will miss the Clasico against FC Barcelona on Sunday, if a punishment is handed down.
Real Madrid have opened an investigation into the fight between Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde in Valdebebas on Thursday.
According to AS, suspending both players can’t be ruled out. In this case, they would miss Sunday’s league-deciding Clasico against bitter rival FC Barcelona.
The latest bust-up was a continuation of an initial confrontation on Wednesday. After a foul during a training game, the midfielders came face-to-face and continued their argument in the dressing room.
You’d think that would be the end of it. But Valverde reportedly accused Tchouameni of leaking news of their argument to the press and refused a handshake.
Tchouameni denied being a mole. Yet the accusations continued onto the training pitch. Furthermore, ugly tackles ensued which teammates and staff couldn’t understand while head coach Alvaro Arbeloa also didn’t intervene.
Valverde’s ranting continued in the locker room. And while Tchouameni asked the captain to stop, he wouldn’t meaning tensions escalated to the point the younger of the pair hit Valverde with a blow that resulted in him hitting the floor.
Banging his head, Valverde felt dizzy and had to leave a wheelchair, in one of the most embarrassing incidents to occur between teammates in recent memory.
As reported earlier, a crisis meeting was held in Valdebebas. The damage has already been done, however, while the club decides what to do with both players.
What if Valverde and Tchouameni are suspended for El Clasico?
If that comes to pass, it’s likely we could see Jude Bellingham and Thiago Pitarch in the central midfield roles. Eduardo Camavinga can also get the nod in Tchouameni’s pivot role, and being deployed alongside Pitrach means Bellingham goes to the right or more advanced.
Vinicius is a lock for the left wing, but Gonzalo Garcia is an option to start on the right considering Arda Guler’s injury and Franco Mastantuono being out of sorts.
Against Espanyol, it was Valverde that started on the right with Brahim Diaz on the left because of Vinicius starting as a lone striker. That was influenced by Kylian Mbappe’s knock, though.
In a double pivot, Tchouameni and Pitarch started as Bellingham was in front of them centrally.
