The incident followed an initial clash between the two players on Wednesday, which had already been described as one of the most heated exchanges witnessed at the club's training facility. That confrontation began with a foul during a training drill before escalating into pushing and a dressing room argument requiring teammates to intervene.
Marca reported that Thursday's second incident was "much worse." When the squad arrived at Valdebebas that morning, Valverde refused to shake Tchouaméni's hand — a signal that nothing had been resolved overnight. The subsequent training session was described as hostile, and a fight broke out that again required teammates to step in. This time Valverde took a heavy blow and was taken to hospital, accompanied by head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, where he received stitches.
In an unprecedented step, no player was permitted to leave the training ground after the session. Club CEO José Ángel Sánchez was present at an emergency crisis meeting in the dressing room, with the entire squad in attendance. The aim was to contain the tensions before they spread further. Whether it succeeded is not yet clear.
The incident does not stand alone. Earlier this week, defender Antonio Rüdiger was reported to have struck left-back Álvaro Carreras during a training session. Carreras acknowledged there had been an incident with a teammate on social media without denying it.
Midfielder Dani Ceballos was also sidelined earlier in the season after a falling out with Arbeloa. Reports have suggested up to six players in the squad are currently not on speaking terms with the head coach.
Real Madrid sit eleven points behind Barcelona in La Liga with four games remaining. Barcelona can win the title on Sunday if they avoid defeat at Camp Nou in the Clásico.
Sanctions against Valverde and Tchouaméni are under consideration. Both are currently available for selection — though a club punishment could change that before the weekend.
Real Madrid were European champions two years ago. The distance between that squad and this one, in cohesion and spirit, has never looked wider.