Real Madrid president Florentino Perez held a press conference on May 13, addressing recent reports of a dressing room altercation between players. He dismissed suggestions that the club is in turmoil, emphasizing that such incidents have occurred regularly throughout his tenure.
“Two players have clashed before, and I’ve even sacked three coaches in one season,” Perez said. “This is not new. Players compete fiercely every season, and there are always tensions. The real problem this year is that the incident was made public, and we know who leaked it. But no club has won seven Champions League titles—no one has done what we have.”
Regarding the specific clash between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, Perez remarked: “I think it’s bad, but what’s worse is that someone leaked it. In my 26 years at Real Madrid, there hasn’t been a single year without two players tangling—sometimes even four. But the worst part is that it came from within the house. The next day they are friends again, having coffee together. That leak bothers me more than the scuffle itself.”
Perez went on to defend the club’s culture: “Media should analyze the facts, but you cannot call Real Madrid a mess just because two players had a conflict. There are frictions almost daily, but they end there. If someone inside the club leaks this, it’s more serious than the argument itself. By the way, both are great lads and excellent players.”
He also downplayed the significance of the incident, stating, “Some say this is terrible and will ruin Real Madrid, but I’ve seen it for over 20 years and nothing has happened. Let’s not exaggerate.”