Real Madrid in crisis - inside the conflict and chaos at the Bernabeu

Breaking news from the world of sport: Real Madrid in crisis - inside the conflict and chaos at the BernabeuImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Federico Valverde went to hospital with a head injury after a dressing room row with Aurelien TchouameniByElizabeth ConwaySpanish football reporterPublished23 minutes agoWhat should have been a week focused entirely on a high-stakes El Clasico against Barcelona has instead become dominated by reports of conflict and crisis inside Real Madrid's dressing room. Defeat on Sunday against Barcelona will hand Real's fiercest rivals their second consecutive La Liga title. But while Barca - who were themselves in turmoil not so long ago - continue to prosper, Real Madrid are in chaos, as a result of fan unrest, managerial uncertainty and even allegations of players fighting.

Sport looks at the events of the past week and why they have raised fresh concerns about a season that has unravelled both on and off the pitch. Altercations, a petition and disciplinary issuesReports first emerged in the Spanish media on Wednesday that midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni had been involved in a heated verbal disagreement during training. It was later confirmed by Valverde himself and the situation is understood to have escalated on Thursday at Real's training base.

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Sources have told Sport the argument continued after training and culminated in Valverde being taken to hospital with a head injury following a dressing room altercation. Valverde later denied reports the pair had physically fought, insisting the injury occurred after he "accidentally hit a table" during the confrontation. In a lengthy statement released on Thursday evening, the Uruguay midfielder said he suffered "a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital" and rejected suggestions either player had struck the other.

An emergency meeting was later called involving club president Florentino Perez, members of the coaching staff, head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and captain Dani Carvajal. Real Madrid subsequently released two statements. The first confirmed disciplinary proceedings had been opened against both players, adding that the club would provide updates "once the corresponding internal procedures have been completed".

The second was a medical update confirming Valverde had suffered a concussion and would need to rest for between 10 and 14 days, ruling him out of Sunday's El Clasico. "Clearly, someone here is spreading rumours, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion," Valverde said. Valverde cut head when he 'accidentally hit table' in Tchouameni row Published17 hours agoInjury row, yacht trip & petition - what's going on with Mbappe?

Published2 days agoDressing room dividesDefender Alvaro Carreras also responded this week to reports linking him with a separate disagreement involving team-mate Antonio Rudiger.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.