Arabic version: أربيلوا يدافع عن فالفيردي وتشواميني بعد حادثة غرفة الملابس

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa has publicly defended players Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni following a recent altercation that left Valverde needing to be taken to hospital for stitches in his head. In a press conference, Arbeloa expressed pride in his players and emphasized the importance of allowing them to “keep fighting for the badge” of Real Madrid. According to The Guardian, the incident resulted in both players being fined €500,000 each, a record for the club.

Despite Valverde’s absence from the upcoming match against Barcelona due to “craniofacial trauma,” Arbeloa confirmed that Tchouaméni will participate. The coach characterized the dressing room environment as “healthy” and rejected claims that his players were unprofessional or disrespectful. He stated, “I will not allow people to use this to question my players’ professionalism,” firmly refuting any negative narratives surrounding the incident.

Arbeloa also noted that mistakes happen and referenced club legends like Juanito, who also faced criticism during his career. He expressed disappointment over leaks from the dressing room, calling them a betrayal of the team. He stated, “What happens in the Madrid dressing room should stay in the Madrid dressing room.”

Looking ahead to the crucial clásico match, Arbeloa urged his players to learn from their mistakes and channel their energy positively. He affirmed his commitment to supporting Valverde and Tchouaméni, insisting they deserve the chance to move forward and continue representing Real Madrid with dedication.