Real Madrid's season hit a new low Thursday when captain Federico Valverde was taken to the hospital after a dressing-room fight with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni. The Uruguayan midfielder sustained a cut to the head and has been diagnosed with a head trauma. He will rest for 10 to 14 days.
The club confirmed the injury and opened disciplinary proceedings against both players. An emergency meeting of senior officials delayed the team's departure from the Valdebebas training ground by over an hour.
This incident follows an earlier altercation between Valverde and Tchouameni the day before, and a separate heated argument involving defender Antonio Ruediger. Manager Xabi Alonso was sacked mid-season, and successor Alvaro Arbeloa has failed to turn things around. Real Madrid trails Barcelona by 11 points in La Liga with four games left, and a Champions League exit to Bayern Munich has left the club facing a second straight trophyless campaign.