Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni has revisited the controversial incident involving team-mate Federico Valverde, insisting the pair never fought physically despite acknowledging that something inappropriate happened during their disagreement.
The French international addressed the episode in an interview with The Bridge, explaining that reports of a fight had exaggerated what happened inside the Spanish club’s dressing room.
Tensions between the two midfielders became public in May 2026 after a disagreement at Real Madrid’s training ground escalated into a disciplinary matter. The club subsequently opened proceedings against both players and imposed a €500,000 fine on each after they appeared before the investigator handling the case.
Speaking about the incident, Tchouaméni rejected claims that he and Valverde had engaged in a physical fight.
“People talk a lot, but no fight happened between Valverde and me,” the midfielder said, according to Spanish media reports.
He acknowledged that disagreements can occur within a dressing room but maintained that the situation had been misrepresented in public.
“It’s true that some things happen inside the dressing room, but we never fought,” he explained, adding that although something inappropriate had happened, he had not come to blows with his team-mate.
The incident attracted considerable attention because of Real Madrid’s global profile and the pressure surrounding the club during a difficult period. Tchouaméni argued that relatively ordinary disagreements can become major controversies when they involve players at one of football’s most closely scrutinised institutions.
He suggested that the media attention surrounding the episode had made the situation appear more serious than it needed to be, creating concerns among people who contacted him to find out what had happened.
According to the midfielder, he chose to exercise discretion rather than discuss the private details of the disagreement publicly.
Tchouaméni also compared the situation with incidents he had seen in a documentary about American football, suggesting that tensions between team-mates are not unusual in elite sporting environments.
However, the controversy was significant enough for Real Madrid to take formal disciplinary action. In an official statement on May 8, the club confirmed that both players had expressed remorse, apologised to each other and extended their apologies to the club, their team-mates, the coaching staff and supporters.
Real Madrid subsequently imposed a €500,000 financial penalty on each midfielder, bringing its internal disciplinary proceedings to a close.
Valverde had also rejected claims that either player had deliberately struck the other. The Uruguay international explained at the time that he had accidentally hit a table during an argument, suffering a head injury that required medical attention.
The incident fuelled speculation about tensions within the squad, particularly as it emerged during a challenging period for the Spanish giants. Nevertheless, both players subsequently indicated that they wanted to move forward and focus on their responsibilities at the club.
Tchouaméni’s latest comments reinforce that message, with the midfielder insisting that his relationship with Valverde remains positive both on and off the pitch.
He said the pair shared the same objective at Real Madrid and that the disagreement had not damaged their working relationship. He also suggested that difficult moments could ultimately bring team-mates closer together if handled properly.
The midfielder’s comments come as Real Madrid prepare for another high-profile encounter against Barcelona, with the latest El Clásico scheduled for Sunday, October 25.
With the rivalry placing enormous pressure on players and coaching staff, maintaining unity within the dressing room will be important as Madrid seek a positive result against their fiercest domestic rivals.
For Tchouaméni, the priority is to put the controversy behind him. While he has acknowledged that an inappropriate incident occurred, he has firmly rejected the suggestion that he and Valverde fought physically.
His account offers further insight into a dispute that attracted widespread attention earlier in the year, while his insistence that the pair remain on good terms suggests both players are determined to move forward.
