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Real Madrid's season reached a new low this week, with reports of further locker room turmoil, including the shocking incident that left Federico Valverde requiring hospital treatment.
Tensions have been simmering throughout the campaign for Madrid, who are on course for a second straight year without silverware.
An already dismal season could end with a final humiliation this weekend. Should Barcelona take at least a point from Sunday's Clásico they will be officially crowned La Liga champions—marking the first time a team has clinched the title in that fixture in the competition's history.
Behind the scenes, frustrations over the club's predicament have reached a breaking point, with the dressing room reportedly on the verge of all-out civil war.
Valverde 'Hospitalized' Amid Locker Room Divisions
On Wednesday, reports emerged of a "brutal" training ground altercation between teammates Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, which reportedly created a "divided atmosphere" within the squad.
Then on Thursday, matters escalated further when MARCA revealed that Valverde and Tchouaméni clashed again during another intense session, with the Uruguayan sustaining a cut that "required him to go to the hospital."
It has been noted that the blow responsible for the cut was not inflicted by Tchouaméni, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.
That same day, Kylian Mbappé was filmed driving away from the Valdebebas training facility appearing to laugh uncontrollably.
🚨 IMAGEN @elchiringuitotv 🚨
🤣 MBAPPÉ ABANDONA VALDEBEBAS 'PARTIÉNDOSE de RISA'.
🇫🇷 El francés ha completado hoy parte del entrenamiento con el grupo. pic.twitter.com/nVcMLKiX1d
Elsewhere, MARCA reports that certain stars "barely exchange words," while six Real Madrid players have reportedly cut off communication with Arbeloa entirely.
Although the players are not identified by name, the likes of Raúl Asencio, Álvaro Carreras, Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos have all reportedly clashed with the manager at various stages this season.
Club captain Carvajal is said to have injured a teammate with a "reckless" challenge, apparently venting his frustration over limited playing time during training. Meanwhile, Asencio, Carreras and Ceballos have all been unexpectedly left out of matchday squads due to attitude concerns.
Real Madrid 'Impossible to Coach'
Upon taking charge in January, Arbeloa's primary mission was to restore stability following a chaotic first half of the season under Xabi Alonso.
Alonso notably lost his grip on the dressing room, with Vinicius Junior's on-field meltdown during October's Clásico serving as the most glaring sign that things had unraveled.
After his departure, Alonso was reported to have described this Madrid squad as "impossible to coach"—a verdict that appears increasingly accurate. Since Arbeloa stepped in, and the team subsequently crashed out of the Champions League and the title race, the fractures within the squad have only deepened.
Just a day before the first Valverde-Tchouaméni confrontation, Carreras took to Instagram to indirectly confirm reports that he had been struck by Antonio Rüdiger in yet another training ground incident.
Also this week, Mbappé reportedly got into a heated argument with a member of the coaching staff, as the Frenchman continues to cut an increasingly isolated figure within the squad.
How to Fix Madrid Rifts
Training ground skirmishes are not uncommon. What is currently unfolding at Madrid, however, is far from normal.
The sheer volume of incidents and internal divisions can no longer be dismissed by Arbeloa or the Madrid hierarchy as simply the byproduct of a club with high expectations.
Sunday's visit to Barcelona, with the league title on the line, carries the very real prospect of yet more damaging and unwanted headlines for Madrid.
With this season effectively written off, Madrid are in desperate need of a cultural overhaul this summer.
Arbeloa is widely expected to be relieved of his duties, with a new manager set to be brought in. That appointment looks set to be among the most consequential in recent Madrid history, with whoever takes the job facing the daunting challenge of managing egos, reuniting a fractured dressing room and ending the club's trophy drought.
The incoming manager must command genuine respect from the players and be capable of imposing authority over the unchecked star power that has defined this turbulent season. The appetite for a disciplinarian has led some to call for José Mourinho, but the 63-year-old is almost certainly not the right solution.
While Valverde and Tchouaméni are unlikely to be shown the door, other disruptive figures such as Ceballos, Asencio and even Carvajal are not expected to feature next season. On the recruitment front, pressing needs at center back and central midfield will require attention.
Mbappé, meanwhile, has attracted considerable criticism throughout the season, yet the club are not anticipated to consider selling him this summer. Instead, finding a way for the French star to finally gel with Madrid's other key figures will be central to both on-pitch improvement and restoring harmony behind the scenes.