Real Madrid punish Valverde and Tchouameni with €500,000
Spanish club Real Madrid has decided to impose a fine of 500,000 euros on French first-team duo Aurelien Tchouameni and Uruguayan Federico Valverde, following an altercation that took place between them during training last Thursday.
The club announced in a statement, Friday, May 8, 2026, that "following the events that led to the opening of a disciplinary case yesterday (Thursday) against the players of Valverde Tchouameni, both of them appeared today before the investigator of the case."
The statement continued: "During the appearance, the two players expressed their deep regret for what happened, apologized to each other, as well as to the club, their teammates, the coaching staff and the fans, and expressed their willingness to accept any punishment the club deems appropriate."
"In light of these circumstances, Real Madrid decided to impose a fine of €500,000 on each player, thus concluding the relevant internal procedures," he explained.
Valverde misses Sunday's Clásico
Valverde has previously been ruled out for 10 to 14 days after suffering a concussion and a deep wound to the forehead that required him to be taken to hospital following a violent altercation with Tchouameni during a training session that later spread to the dressing room.
The medical report confirmed that Valverde's condition requires complete rest for nearly two weeks according to the protocols adopted for the treatment of concussions, which means that he will be officially absent from the expected Clásico against Barcelona on Sunday (May 10th), in a new blow to the team that is experiencing increasing pressure after its exit from the Champions League and the approach of the LaLiga decision in favor of its traditional rival. The context of the match can be followed via the Clásico 2026.
In an attempt to contain the crisis, Valverde issued a statement denying that there had been an "exchange of punches", confirming that his injury occurred "accidentally" as a result of hitting a table during a heated argument, but Spanish press sources described it as a violent physical altercation, further complicating the situation inside the dressing room at a sensitive stage of the season.
Tchouameni accuses social media of exaggerating the incident
Tchouameni issued a statement on Friday evening, saying: "I am sorry for the image we have conveyed of the club, I know that the fans, the staff, my colleagues, the management, everyone are deeply disappointed with the way this season has gone, but frustration cannot be an excuse for everything. These incidents, even if they happen in any dressing room, are not appropriate for Real Madrid, especially since Real Madrid is the most recent club in the world."
Tchouameni accused social media platforms of exaggerating the incident by saying, "The internet likes to invent the wildest stories in order to create a buzz, so don't believe everything that is being said or the false narratives."
In any case, now is not the time to know who did what, who said what, who was right and who was wrong.. I accept the club's punishment, we will remain one family, with differences at times, but we must always put our goals above everything else."
"Now is the time to move forward, and all our focus is on the Clásico and next season, to bring the club back to the top, where it belongs," the statement concluded.