News Focus
- Tchouameni breaks silence on Instagram regarding the training ground incident
- Real Madrid fined both midfielders €500,000 each
- Valverde faces 10-14 days out with a head injury
- Tchouameni trains normally and remains available for El Clasico
- The Frenchman accepts club punishment and apologises to Madridistas
Aurelien Tchouameni has spoken to the public for the first time about his clash with Federico Valverde. The Real Madrid midfielder posted a statement on Instagram on Friday evening.
The Frenchman shared his message one day after Valverde gave his own version of events. The Uruguayan had insisted on Thursday night that Tchouameni did not hit him. He also complained about damage to his public image.
Real Madrid have responded by punishing both players. The club has fined each midfielder €500,000. However, neither player will face a ban or any punishment that affects their time on the pitch.
Tchouameni trained with the rest of the squad on Friday morning. Valverde, meanwhile, continues to recover from his head injury.
In his statement, Tchouameni called the incident unacceptable. He said professional footballers must set a good example for young people. He stressed that finding a calm solution matters more than deciding who was right or wrong.
“I am sorry for the image we projected of the club,” he wrote. “I know the fans, the staff, my teammates and the management are all deeply disappointed.”
The 26-year-old also warned supporters about false stories online. He said the internet often creates wild tales for attention. He asked fans not to believe everything they read.
Tchouameni confirmed he has said sorry to his teammates. He also accepted the club’s punishment without argument. “We remain a family,” he added. “We must always put our objectives above everything else.”
He ended his message by looking ahead to Sunday’s match. “Now is the time to move forward. All our focus is on El Clasico.”
Valverde will miss the Barcelona clash due to his injury. Doctors expect him to be out for between 10 and 14 days. Tchouameni, however, should start the match at the centre of midfield.
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad faces several other problems before the big game. The defence has injury worries, and Kylian Mbappe’s fitness remains doubtful.