The powerful gesture between Valverde and Tchouaméni

Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni showed everyone on Tuesday night that the disagreement which marked their relationship last season is now firmly behind them.

A few months ago, at the beginning of May, the two Real Madrid midfielders found themselves at the center of a major altercation inside the dressing room at Valdebebas. The incident quickly became a major talking point around the club, especially after the confrontation reportedly ended with Valverde suffering a head injury.

The situation was serious enough for Real Madrid to open disciplinary proceedings against both players. According to reports, Valverde and Tchouaméni were each handed a €500,000 fine, one of the heaviest internal sanctions imposed by the club in recent years.

At the time, the incident raised questions about the atmosphere inside the Real Madrid dressing room and, more importantly, about the future relationship between two players who are expected to play key roles in the club’s midfield.

Several months later, however, the situation appears to have completely changed.

Time has helped calm things down, while the Club World Cup also gave the players an opportunity to move beyond the controversy. Valverde and Tchouaméni now seem to have restored a normal relationship, both on and off the pitch.

That was clearly demonstrated on Tuesday night against Elche.

José Mourinho decided to start both midfielders together in a double pivot, something that had not happened since their dressing-room altercation. The Portuguese coach trusted the pair to control the center of the pitch in what proved to be a difficult evening for Real Madrid.

Valverde and Tchouaméni turn the page

The match itself was far from comfortable for the Spanish giants. Elche pushed Real Madrid all the way, and Mourinho’s side had to wait until stoppage time before securing a dramatic victory.

But after the final whistle, one particular moment attracted attention.

As Real Madrid’s players celebrated their late win, Valverde and Tchouaméni came together to congratulate each other. Television cameras captured the two midfielders sharing a warm embrace, both smiling as they celebrated the victory.

It may have looked like a simple gesture, but considering everything that happened between them last season, the images carried plenty of meaning.

No había visto entre Tchouaméni y Fede Valverde tras acabar el partido en Elchepic.twitter.com/EpjywrKbaR

— Madrid Sports (@MadridSports_) September 17, 2026

There was no sign of tension or resentment. Instead, Valverde and Tchouaméni appeared relaxed and genuinely happy to celebrate together.

For Real Madrid, the scene will certainly be welcomed. Both players remain extremely important to Mourinho’s plans, and having them working together without any lingering personal issues can only strengthen the team.

Their qualities are also highly complementary. Valverde brings energy, intensity and the ability to cover huge areas of the pitch, while Tchouaméni offers physical presence, defensive balance and control in front of the back line.

Tuesday night therefore represented more than just another appearance together in midfield. Their embrace after the dramatic victory over Elche appeared to confirm that an uncomfortable chapter has finally been closed.

Valverde and Tchouaméni have moved on — and their focus now seems fully back on helping Real Madrid achieve its objectives this season.