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Federico Valverde has referred to his training ground confrontation with Aurélien Tchouaméni as a "small obstacle," while maintaining that the episode will ultimately make him a stronger leader at Real Madrid.
The Uruguayan grabbed headlines in early May when the club issued a statement confirming he had been taken to hospital with a "brain injury" following an altercation with Tchouaméni at Valdebebas.
Both players received €500,000 ($580,000) fines but escaped further disciplinary measures, as the club sought to move past the deeply embarrassing episode.
The incident was widely regarded as one of the lowest points in a season already marred by off-field controversy and dressing room tensions.
Reports have since emerged suggesting some Real Madrid players would like to see Valverde offloaded because of his role in the drama. However, the player himself claims to have moved on and says he still has the full support of both the club and its supporters.
Valverde Insists He Will Learn From Fight
"I feel great," Valverde told reporters ahead of Uruguay's pre-World Cup training camp, as quoted by MARCA. "I had the support and affection of all the Real Madrid fans and also of the club. Sometimes you have to go through these small obstacles in football and in life to learn to grow and mature."
Valverde is also poised to become Real Madrid's next permanent captain, taking over the armband from Dani Carvajal, who played his last match for the club in the season finale against Athletic Club on May 24.
There have been suggestions that Madrid could revise their tradition of automatically handing the captaincy to the most senior player, though Valverde has received a glowing endorsement from Carvajal. The departing skipper posted on social media that "the armband is in good hands" in response to a tribute from the Uruguayan midfielder.
Valverde has also stated that he is confident recent events will help him "be a better captain in the coming years."
Willingness to Play Right Back
The dressing room clash with Tchouaméni was not the only controversy surrounding Valverde this season. The 27-year-old sparked debate back in October when he declared he was "not born to play right back."
When asked whether he would be willing to fill a defensive role for Uruguay this summer, Valverde made clear he would do so if called upon by head coach Marcelo Bielsa.
"I accept it, obviously," he said. "The coach is the one in charge, and one always dreams of being among the starting eleven. I'm available for whatever he needs."
Valverde's Uruguay kicks off its World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia in Group H on June 16, followed by Cape Verde on June 22, before taking on a Spain side featuring no Real Madrid players on June 27.