Real Madrid fines Thoumeni and Valverde $588,000 each after training ground fight

Real Madrid announced on Friday that Aurelian Chuameni and Federico Valverde had been fined 500,000 euros each after a clash during training that left Valverde needing hospital treatment.The club said it would not impose a sporting penalty on the two players, adding that the fine “thus concludes the internal process that began after the incident”.Valverde will miss Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona after suffering a head injury during the altercation. The club said he could be out for up to two weeks.Chuameni trained on Friday and is still available to play at Camp Nou this weekend.Real Madrid said both players “expressed complete remorse for what happened and apologized to each other” during the club’s investigation.“They apologize to the club, their teammates, the coaching staff and the fans, and both parties have expressed to Real Madrid their readiness to accept any sanctions the club deems appropriate,” a club statement said.Valverde was taken to a hospital near Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground by head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, AFP reported, citing Spanish media. Reports said he suffered facial injuries that required stitches.Valverde later tried to lessen the severity of the incident.Valverde wrote on social media: “Competitive tension and frustration led to an escalation of the situation.”He said: “During the argument, I accidentally bumped into the table, which resulted in a small cut on my forehead and required me to go to the hospital for a routine check-up.”“My teammates never hit me and I never hit him.”Reports say the two players got into an argument during Wednesday’s practice and the issues continued during and after Thursday’s practice.Spanish media also reported that Valverde refused to shake Chuameni’s hand and subsequently fouled him in training on Thursday. The report added that the two then got into a fight in the dressing room and the injury occurred.Tensions have been high at Real Madrid as the club risks a second consecutive season without a major trophy.Madrid is 11 points behind Barcelona in La Liga. Barcelona, ​​coached by Hansi Flick, can claim another league title on Sunday if they avoid defeat.