What happened: Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa publicly rejected claims that his players have been unprofessional or disrespectful toward him. His comments followed reports of dressing-room unrest and came after the club fined Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni following their training-ground confrontation.
Why it matters: The denial matters because Real Madrid are trying to contain a widening internal crisis just before a Clasico that multiple outlets described as potentially decisive in the title race. It also reinforces the line from Romano's earlier reporting on Real Madrid chaos that tensions inside the squad have become a major storyline around the club.
By the numbers: Real Madrid officially opened disciplinary proceedings on May 7, 2026 against Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. Reports on May 8 said both players were fined 500,000 euros. Valverde was reported out for 10-14 days with craniofacial trauma after the incident, while Tchouameni remained available for the upcoming Clasico.
What to watch: Watch for whether Real Madrid's lineup and on-field response against Barcelona match Arbeloa's insistence that the squad remains united. Further club comments on dressing-room leaks or Arbeloa's future could quickly escalate this story.