Real Madrid has fined Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni half-a-million-euro ($588,000) following an altercation between the teammates in training.
The punishment comes a day after Valverde and Tchouaméni got physical during a training match with words being exchanged. Afterward, Valverde confronted Tchouaméni in the changing room and Valverde reportedly needed stitches after suffering a cut following a fall into a table.
Valverde posted on social media that the altercation was a “meaningless fight” with his teammate and that the situation “has been blown out of proportion.”
Real Madrid said in a statement that both players apologized to one another and to their teammates and team staff.
“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.”
Tchouaméni was involved in Friday’s training session, while Valverde has been ruled out for Sunday’s match against Barcelona with a head injury.
This weekend’s El Clásico isn’t just another meeting of the Spanish rivals. Barcelona needs a win or draw to clinch their second straight La Liga title and third in four seasons.
It’s been a season of drama at Real Madrid after firing Xabi Alonso after only eight months in charge and numerous reported incidents involving players and staff members.
Real Madrid, who are second in the league table 11 points behind Barcelona, will have three more matches after their meeting with Barcelona. It will mark only their second season without a trophy since 2010.