Adedokun Waliyu 
Real Madrid announced that they had fined Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde 500,000 euros each after a training ground clash that left Valverde needing hospital treatment.
The club did not impose any sporting sanctions on the two players, saying in a statement that the fine “thereby concludes the internal procedures” launched against them.
Valverde will miss Sunday’s Clásico against Barcelona as a result of the head injury he suffered during the altercation. The club said he would be out for up to two weeks.
Tchouameni took part in training and could feature at Camp Nou.
Madrid said both players “expressed their complete remorse for what happened and apologised to each other” while taking part in a club investigation.
“They extended their apologies to the club, their teammates, the coaching staff, and the fans, and both have made themselves available to Real Madrid to accept whatever sanction the club deems appropriate,” the club statement said.
Uruguay international Valverde was accompanied to the hospital facility near the club’s Valdebebas training complex by Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, according to Spanish reports, which said the player needed stitches to treat a facial wound.
Valverde sought to downplay the severity of the altercation with the France midfielder.
“The strain of the competition and frustration caused the situation to escalate,” Valverde wrote on social media, expressing regret at the media coverage of the incident.
“I accidentally hit a table during the argument, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital,” he said.
“At no point did my team-mate hit me, and I didn’t hit him either.”
According to reports, the two players argued during training, and the disagreement continued during and after another session, eventually leading to a clash in the dressing room where the injury occurred.
Spanish media reported Valverde refused to shake Tchouameni’s hand and later fouled him in training before the pair scrapped afterwards.
Tensions are running high at Real Madrid with the club on the verge of a second consecutive season without a major trophy.
Los Blancos trail Barcelona by 11 points at the top of La Liga, with Hansi Flick’s side able to clinch back-to-back league titles if they avoid defeat.
