The surreal response from Arbeloa when asked about Valverde and Tchouameni
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Pablo Díaz
Madrid
Real Madrid could make a second decision regarding Federico Valverde. According to Ok Diario, the club may strip him of the captain’s armband and even consider listening to offers for his departure.
Club officials believe that beyond the recent incident, the Uruguayan midfielder has not maintained the exemplary behavior expected of a captain—a perception that had already raised concerns even under Xabi Alonso’s management.
Fede Valverde and Florentino Pérez on the day the Uruguayan renewed his contract with Real Madrid.
/ REAL MADRID
This move comes after events that took place last week, when Valverde was involved in a serious altercation with teammate Aurélien Tchouameni following a training session. According to reports from Marca, the argument escalated into a physical confrontation between the two players, with tensions having been building since the previous day.
As an immediate reaction, the club made its first disciplinary move by imposing a €500,000 fine on each of the players involved.
However, the club believes this sanction is not enough. Valverde is being singled out more than Tchouameni. Although there is also frustration with the Frenchman, internally he is seen as the one who reacted after being provoked, placing him in a less compromised position within the squad.
According to journalist Mario Cortegana, when the two were placed on the same team during the training session on the day of the incident, Valverde told the Frenchman: “You’re lucky we ended up together.”
Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni (c), alongside teammates during training on Saturday at the Valdebebas sports complex, ahead of the match against FC Barcelona.
/ FERNANDO VILLAR / EFE
Florentino Pérez is especially upset by what happened—more for the off-field implications than for the sporting aspects of this season. He understands that institutional respect and internal discipline are fundamental pillars that cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
Moreover, the team’s sporting situation over the past two seasons, marked by a lack of major titles, has led to a stricter internal policy. In this context, the club considers few players untouchable before the most difficult summer transfer window in years begins.
As a result, Valverde’s future is now uncertain. Real Madrid will not rule out listening to offers for the Uruguayan during the next summer market, provided those offers are satisfactory to the club’s interests.
Topics: Federico Valverde, Florentino Pérez
