Valverde out of El Clásico after Tchouaméni fight causes traumatic brain injury
The Uruguayan midfielder was ruled out for 10-14 days after suffering what Real Madrid described as a “cranioencephalic trauma.”
Another twist in the tale. Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouaméni got physical at the Real Madrid training ground for the second time in 48 hours, with the Uruguayan first refusing a handshake before accusing his teammate of leaking the initial argument to the press.
The fight continued out on the training pitch, with various strong challenges flying in.
Constant accusations saw Real Madrid teammates step in, with no result. Even so, it was too late: Tchouaméni landed a punch on Valverde, who hit his head as he fell and was knocked unconscious before being carted off to hospital in a wheelchair.
After being given stitches, Real Madrid announced that disciplinary proceedings were to be opened up against both players. And after that, another statement came: Fede had a brain injury.
Specifically, a cranioencephalic trauma. In normal speak, that’s a traumatic brain injury, caused by the fall.
A Real Madrid statement read:
After the tests carried out today on our player Fede Valverde by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a cranioencephalic trauma.
Valverde is at home in good condition and will need to rest for 10 to 14 days, as indicated by medical protocols for this diagnosis.
As a result, Valverde will miss Real Madrid’s upcoming LaLiga game, a trip to Barcelona to face the league leaders in a match that could, should Los Blancos lose, decide the title.
Ahead of the game, Barcelona sit on 88 points, with Madrid on 77. A win for Barcelona would make their lead at the top impossible to catch given the number of games left in the season.
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