Álvaro Arbeloa appeared before the media this Saturday, May 9, and did not avoid questions about the scandal involving Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni in training at Valdebebas.
The Real Madrid coach tried to minimize the conflict between both players but was especially harsh with the leaks to the press, which he described as a betrayal of the institution. “That things that happen in the locker room are leaked is a betrayal of Real Madrid and its emblem. And it makes me very sad,” said Arbeloa, visibly affected by how the incident spread to the media.
The coach also defended the way the club handled the situation internally and assured that the requests for apologies among the players were enough to close the episode. “The players acknowledged their mistake and they all apologized. That’s enough”said Arbeloa, who also came out in defense of the two midfielders sanctioned with 500,000 euros each. “Valverde and Tchouaméni deserve for us to move forward, to give them the opportunity to continue fighting for this club”stated the coach, making it clear that the episode must be left behind for Sunday’s Classic.
Arbeloa was also clear about what he expects from his team’s behavior from now on. “I’m not justifying what happened, but it happens everywhere. The most serious thing is that what happens in the Real Madrid locker room should stay in the locker room and it didn’t happen. These are situations that do not represent the club,” said the coach, who closed with a message about his own leadership style. “I try to set an example, with my private conversations staying between the players and me,” concluded Arbeloa in the press conference prior to the Camp Nou Clásico.
A Classic with everything at stake
Real Madrid arrives at Sunday’s Clásico at the Camp Nou with the obligation to win to prevent Barcelona from mathematically being proclaimed champion of LaLiga 2025-26 against its eternal rival, something that has never happened in the history of Spanish football. Arbeloa will have to face the most important game of his season without Valverde, out due to the craniocerebral trauma suffered after the fight, and with doubts about the presence of Mbappé who continues to recover from his muscle injury.
The match will be played this Sunday, May 10 at 1:00 PM Guatemala time at the Spotify Camp Nou and can be followed through Sky Sports Guatemala and VIX+, in what promises to be one of the most historic Clásicos that Spanish football has experienced in recent years.