Real Madrid are in a state flux right now. Nothing seems to be going in their favour. They are on the verge of going trophyless this season and the fans are upset as a result. Things have escalated with reports of players fighting each other.
Reports first emerged in the Spanish media on Wednesday that midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni had been involved in a heated verbal disagreement during training.
It was later confirmed by Valverde himself and the situation is understood to have escalated on Thursday at Real's training base.
Sources have told the argument continued after training and culminated in Valverde being taken to hospital with a head injury following a dressing room altercation.
Valverde later denied reports the pair had physically fought, insisting the injury occurred after he "accidentally hit a table" during the confrontation.
In a lengthy statement released on Thursday evening, the Uruguay midfielder said he suffered "a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital" and rejected suggestions either player had struck the other.
An emergency meeting was later called involving club president, Florentino Perez, members of the coaching staff, head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and captain, Dani Carvajal.
Real Madrid subsequently released two statements:
The first confirmed disciplinary proceedings had been opened against both players, adding that the club would provide updates, "once the corresponding internal procedures have been completed."
The second was a medical update confirming Valverde had suffered a concussion and would need to rest for between 10 and 14 days, ruling him out of Sunday's El Clasico.
"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," Valverde said.
According to the report, there have been multiple 'flashpoints' ahead of the Barcelona match, with ex-Chelsea centre-back, Antonio Rudiger, involved in a ‘heated argument with another first-team player in the dressing room at Real Madrid’s training ground in April and this was 'instigated' by the veteran defender.
Kylian Mbappe is also said to have clashed with one of Real Madrid’s coaches, speaking angrily to, and insulting a member of, Arbeloa’s team who had flagged him offside in a training game.
Marca then revealed on Thursday that a training ground ‘fight’ between Tchouameni and Valverde ended with the latter in hospital as several players told the Spanish outlet that the incident was ‘the most serious ever experienced in Valdebebas'.
Real Madrid later confirmed Valverde suffered a ‘traumatic brain injury’ in a statement to the press but is now now ‘good condition at home’.
Defender, Alvaro Carreras, also responded this week to reports linking him with a separate disagreement involving team-mate Antonio Rudiger.
Carreras didn't name the player directly but wrote on Instagram: "In recent days, certain insinuations and comments about me have emerged that do not correspond to reality."
"Regarding the incident with a colleague, it is a specific matter of no relevance that has already been settled. My relationship with the whole team is very good."
Real Madrid players are reportedly ‘convinced’ that Vinicius Junior is the ‘snitch’ in the dressing room after a ‘fight’ between two stars.
The Spanish giants are towards the end of another shambolic season but it has somehow been made a lot worse in recent days.
There have been regular reports of behind-the-scenes conflict at Real Madrid over the past two seasons, with a dressing room filled with massive egos causing headaches for coaches and other leading figures.
Real Madrid have one of the best squads in Europe, but they have become virtually impossible to manage, with current boss Alvaro Arbeloa struggling after Xabi Alonso.
On Friday, Real said the pair had "apologised to each other, the club and their Football team-mates" and been fined €500 000 (£432 037.50) each.
Football clubs should never sink this low. In times of turbulence, players should stick together and try resolve issues without any physical altercations. The important part is that they apologised and were ready to move on. I can almost guarantee that they don't want to lose the La Liga title to their rivals in the El Classico.
Also, it's apparent that the players and media aren't aware of the two rules of Fight Club: you never talk about Fight Club.