They deserve to move on… Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa defends Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde after their altercation

In a press conference on Saturday, the day before the Clasico, the Real Madrid coach discussed the incidents that marked the week of the Madrid club.

Published on May 9, 2026 at 12:51, with a reading time of 2 minutes.

Alvaro Arbeloa, the coach of Real Madrid, mentioned that Aurélien Tchouaméni, the French midfielder who was sanctioned for a violent altercation with teammate Federico Valverde, will be part of the Madrid squad for the Clasico match against FC Barcelona on Sunday at 9 pm. According to Arbeloa, Tchouaméni will be included in the team despite their altercation, which left Valverde with a head trauma requiring him to rest for 10 to 14 days.

The Real Madrid coach expressed pride in how the club quickly responded to the incident, imposing a fine of 500,000 euros on Tchouaméni and Valverde, without any sporting sanctions. Arbeloa emphasized that he will not allow this incident to question the professionalism of his players.

He mentioned that similar situations occur in team environments everywhere, referencing past experiences in his career. Arbeloa defended Kylian Mbappé, who prioritized joining Real Madrid in 2024 despite having a successful career at Paris Saint-Germain. Mbappé, who had a hamstring injury at the end of April, trained normally with his teammates and is expected to play in the Clasico.

Arbeloa also addressed criticism against Mbappé for taking a break in Sardinia while his team was playing a match, as well as for smiling after the altercation between Tchouaméni and Valverde. The coach reiterated his authority in controlling the actions of all players on the field, regardless of their status.