Real Madrid president Florentino Perez confirmed the clash between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, claiming that “it’s very bad, and even worse that it became public.” Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni have dominated headlines over the past several days following two physical altercations on consecutive days, one of which resulted in Valverde being taken to the hospital. At a press conference on Tuesday, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez confirmed the incident, stating that what made it “even worse” was that it became public knowledge.
Reports of the first confrontation emerged last Wednesday during a training session at Valdebebas, where teammates had to physically intervene to separate Tchouaméni and Valverde. The situation escalated the following day, with another clash that turned physical, culminating in Valverde requiring hospital treatment following training.
In the aftermath, Valverde issued a statement in which he did not deny the argument but pushed back against reports of a fistfight with his teammate. “During the argument, I accidentally hit a table and cut my forehead a little, which required a routine trip to the hospital,” he said. Pérez, however, confirmed more of what had originally been reported.
At Tuesday’s press conference, called to announce anticipated club elections, the Real Madrid president was asked for his reaction to the incident: “I think it’s very wrong, and even worse that it has come to light. In 26 years, I think it’s terrible that they’ve put this out there. The chaos that some of you (the journalists) have wanted to convey is horrible.“
Rather than focusing on the confrontation itself, Pérez directed his sharpest criticism at whoever had leaked the information to the press. “The leak itself is worse because it implies there is something more going on than just a fight, when the very next day they are friends again. The leak seems worse to me—in my 26-year history, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen it,” he added.
*Developing story…