Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder issues statement after training ground incident: ‘Everything gets blown out of proportion’
Tensions at Real Madrid are at an all-time high, and it is clear that the entire dressing room is in turmoil.
Los Blancos, at this point, have seen multiple internal altercations between players and the staff and even between players themselves.
One of the biggest such incidents involved Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni who were involved in a second fight yesterday that left the former injured and having to go to a hospital.
Valverde’s statement
Taking to his Instagram after the incident, Federico Valverde released an official statement on what unfolded between him and his teammate and put an end to the rumours on the subject.
“Yesterday I had an incident with a teammate during a training session. The fatigue from competition and the frustration made everything seem blown out of proportion.”
“In a normal locker room, these things can happen and are usually resolved internally without it becoming public knowledge,” he added.
The player then insisted that a large part of what was being said had no basis and that someone was spreading false news to the media.
“Clearly, someone here is spreading rumours, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion.”
Explaining how he suffered his injury, he stated that it was because of a blow to a table and not a direct result of Aurelien Tchouameni’s hit.
“Today we had another disagreement. During the argument, I accidentally hit a table, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital.”
“At no point did my teammate hit me, and I didn’t hit him either, although I understand it’s easier for you to believe we came to blows or that it was intentional, but that didn’t happen,” he added, contrary to reports.
Valverde went on to blame the team’s situation, struggles on the field and the resultant stress for being the reason for such a tense atmosphere at the club.
“I feel that my anger about the situation, my frustration at seeing some of us struggling to get through the end of the season, giving it our all, pushed me to the point of arguing with a teammate.”
“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry because this situation hurts me, this moment we’re going through is painful. Real Madrid is one of the most important things in my life, and I can’t be indifferent to it,” he elaborated.
The player also penned down how, despite their being truth to the fact that the tempers were running high in the dressing room, there was someone spreading false rumours.
“The result is an accumulation of things that culminate in a senseless fight, damaging my image and leaving room for doubt that they’ll fabricate stories, slander, and add fuel to the fire of an accident.”
“I have no doubt that any disagreements we might have off the field cease to exist on it, and if I have to defend it inside a stadium, I’ll be the first,” he added.
Valverde then apologised to the fans for letting them down, both as an individual and as the captain of the team.
“I wasn’t going to speak out until the end of the season. We were eliminated from the Champions League, and I kept my anger and resentment to myself.”
“We’ve wasted another year, and I wasn’t in a position to be posting on social media when the only face I had to show was on the field, and I feel that’s what I did.”
Finally, the player concluded his statement by speaking on his setback which will keep him out of the upcoming games including El Clasico.
“That’s why I’m the one who’s most saddened and pained to be going through this situation that prevents me from playing the next match due to medical decisions.”
“I always gave it my all, to the very end, and it hurts me more than anyone not to be able to do so. I am available to the club and my teammates to collaborate on any decision they deem necessary,” he concluded.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
