Why Federico Valverde will miss El Clasico with head injury from fight with Real Madrid teammate

Why Federico Valverde will miss El Clasico with head injury from fight with Real Madrid teammate originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When Real Madrid takes the pitch against Barcelona during El Clasico on Sunday, it will do so without one of its senior-most players.

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Midfielder Federico Valverde was ruled out of the contest with a head injury. The malady came from an unlikely source:

His midfield mate, Aurelien Tchouameni.

The Uruguayan and Frenchman clashed during a dustup at Valdedebas -- Real Madrid's training ground -- on Thursday. The incident reportedly left Valverde bloodied and unconscious, with his injury so severe that it could jeopardize his status for the remainder of Los Blancos' campaign.

Here's hat you need to know about Valverde's stunning absence from the biggest derby in world football.

MORE: What we know about Federico Valverde vs. Aurelien Tchouameni fight

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What happened to Federico Valverde?

Valverde suffered a head injury after coming to blows with Tchouameni during a Thursday training session at Valdebebas.

Spanish outlet AS reported that Valverde suffered a facial laceration as a result of the dust-up. He was taken to a local hospital for examination. He also received stitches for his wounds.

French publication RMC reported that a scuffle between Valverde and Tchouameni took place in the dressing room after training. During the altercation, Valverde fell, splitting his head open and resulting in him losing consciousness.

The club later confirmed that the Uruguayan midfielder was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury as a result of the incident. He'll miss 10-14 days with the ailment, ensuring that Los Blancos will be without their vice captain during Sunday's match against Barcelona. There's a chance Valverde could miss out on each of Real Madrid's final three matches, too -- depending on if he's able to pass concussion protocols.

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What happened between Valverde and Tchouameni?

Valverde and Tchouameni traded blows during a "very serious" altercation at training on Thursday afternoon, according to multiple reports. The Uruguayan midfielder ended the day in the hospital, receiving stitches after suffering a laceration on his head.

Details on the incident from Spanish outlet Marca, which were corroborated by The Athletic, claim that Valverde

Spanish publications Marca and AS reported that Valverde and Tchouameni's spat actually began on Wednesday. The two locked horns after a Tchouameni caught Valverde with a late tackle.

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Valverde was left incensed as a result of the collision. His frustrations boiled over into Thursday's session, with the Madrid vice-captain refusing to shake his French counterpart's hand at the start of practice.

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Valverde allegedly put in a strong tackle on Tchouameni, prompting manager Alvaro Arbeloa to put the two midfielders on the same team. His efforts didn't work -- the two fired off verbal insults into one another as training wore on.

When they disappeared into the dressing room after training concluded, things escalated. Valverde and Tchouameni got handsy with one another. During the flashpoint, Valverde lost balance, hitting his head on a table. He sustained a laceration and lost consciousness as a result of the collision.

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He received stitches for his injury at a local hospital.

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What is cranioencephalic trauma?

Real Madrid confirmed that Valverde was officially diagnosed with "cranioencephalic trauma." The term is a broad one, encompassing any traumatic injury involving the skull or anatomy within the skull, including the brain, cranial nerves and meninges, according to NIH.

How long is Federico Valverde out?

Valverde is slated to miss at least 10 days as a result of his injury. Real Madrid's concussion protocols require that he rest for 10-14 days before returning to the field. He'll likely miss between two and three matches as a result. He could possibly return to action for Real Madrid's final fixture, the season finale against Athletic Bilbao, although that remains to be seen.

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Will Aurelien Tchouameni face discipline for fight with Valverde?

Both Tchouameni and Valverde were disciplined for their roles in Thursday's confrontation. Fabrizio Romano reported that the Madridistas were fined €500,000 each for their offenses on Friday.

The club had previously announced that it had launched disciplinary proceedings against Tchouameni and Valverde.

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Valverde vs. Tchouameni fight history

Thursday's incident was the culmination of a feud that started one day earlier. Valverde and Tchouameni clashed with one another on Wednesday after Tchouameni took Valverde out with a bad tackle. According to multiple reports, the collision led to a tense atmosphere in the dressing room -- a premonition of what was to come on Thursday.

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