Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni has described last season's dressing room clash with teammate Federico Valverde as "a minor thing," insisting there is now "no issue" between the pair. Valverde was hospitalised with a head injury after the incident in May, and both players were fined a combined €1 million by the club, just days before Madrid were due to face Barcelona in La Liga.
"I want to clear things up," Tchouaméni said on Thursday in an episode of his YouTube show, The Bridge. "There was no fight like people said there was." He explained that scuffles happen in changing rooms, and that something small becomes massive at Real Madrid. "Everyone calls you, everyone wants to know what happened," he said. "It was such a minor thing."
Tchouaméni and Valverde have frequently started in midfield together this season under coach José Mourinho, who said he has seen no problems between the duo since taking charge this summer. "I decided to start from zero," Mourinho said in August. "I've seen that everything is normal." Tchouaméni added: "We are cool. Frankly there is no issue, we're chill."
Madrid face Barcelona at Camp Nou this Sunday in the first Clásico of the season, with both players set to feature. Madrid sit six points behind La Liga leaders Barça, who have a 100% league record this season. Valverde could also play at right-back, having started the last two games in that position ahead of Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing