Valverde breaks silence over Tchouaméni altercation: “I had the affection of all the Real Madrid fans”
The Uruguayan midfielder addressed the controversy for the first time as he joined up with his national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Fede Valverde spoke publicly for the first time about his incident with Aurélien Tchouaméni, which led to disciplinary action from Real Madrid. The midfielder addressed the situation upon arriving in Uruguay to join the national team camp ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
What has Valverde said about Tchouaméni?
“I had the backing of a lot of people, the affection of all the Real Madrid fans, and the support of the club as well,”Valverde said during his arrival in Montevideo. “Sometimes you have to go through these small obstacles in soccer and in life.”
The Uruguayan also reflected on what happened with his teammate and how it could shape him moving forward.
“All of this will help me become a better captain in the coming years, and hopefully I can continue defending Real Madrid,” he added.
During a packed reception in the Uruguayan capital, Valverde also discussed Uruguay’s ambitions for the World Cup.
“We’re always dreaming of lifting the trophy. It’s what you dream about as a kid; playing for your national team and winning the World Cup. Even though we’re excited about it, we have to take it step by step.”
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