Liverpool ideal transfer target could leave chaotic Real Madrid after training bust-up

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Anarchy has engulfed Spanish giants Real Madrid and sources have speculated players could jump shipReal Madrid claim to be the biggest club in world football, but the petulance on show in the Spanish capital this season has been more reminiscent of a team of schoolboys.Alvaro Arbeloa, the former Liverpool defender who became manager of Los Blancos in January, has cut the figure of a covering PE teacher since taking the reins after Xabi Alonso's short spell in charge.Alonso - who completed an historic unbeaten domestic season with Bayer Leverkusen in 2023-24 - left Madrid by mutual consent after his relationships with key players broke down, most notably Vinicius Jr.READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister agent shares Liverpool star's transfer stance amid contract silenceREAD MORE: Desire Doue Liverpool 'dream' as Xabi Alonso sent manager warningBut though the maverick Brazilian has found his form again since Arbeloa's appointment, scoring 16 goals since the turn of the year, the situation has gone from bad to worse for Madrid.Despite comprehensively knocking Manchester City out of the Champions League, Madrid were second-best over two legs against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals and have suffered galling defeats to the likes of second-division Albacete and local rivals Getafe with Arbeloa at the helm.Los Blancos have won just three of their last seven games and now face the prospect of a Clasico at the Camp Nou on Sunday after a week of training ground bust-ups that has threatened to derail the end of their season completely.On Wednesday morning, an argument on the training pitch between vice-captain Federico Valverde and former Liverpool transfer target Aurelien Tchouameni had to be de-escalated by teammates after continuing into the dressing room.Tchouameni, who the Reds attempted to sign before he joined Madrid from Monaco in 2022, had been irked by what he felt was an excessive challenge from Valverde.Club sources told The Athletic that the two had made their peace, but a shocking brawl that left Valverde hospitalised on Thursday proved otherwise.Sources said that Valverde shook hands with everyone except Tchouameni on Thursday upon his arrival in training, and proceeded to hit the Frenchman with a series of strong tackles during the course of the session.Though Tchouameni did not react, the sources alleged that Valverde insulted him after the two were placed on the same side for a training game to keep them from clashing again.After insulting his team-mate again in the dressing room, Tchouameni is then said to have struck Valverde before a brawl ended with the Uruguayan hitting his head against a table, bleeding and having been knocked out from the impact.Valverde's condition is "good", according to the club, but after being admitted to hospital he has now been ruled out for the clash with Barcelona.Sources inside the Real Madrid dressing room told The Athletic that Valverde was to blame for the incident and that the coming to blows was the latest in a pattern of behaviour that has undermined confidence in his ability to lead the team.While sources close to Valverde did not reply to The Athletic's request for comment on these claims, both Madrid and the Uruguayan midfielder have released statements since Thursday's events.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageThe club said in their statement that Valverde had suffered a "cranioencephalic traumatism" - most likely just a concussion - and would be sidelined for at least 10 to 14 days while he recovers.Another Madrid statement revealed that disciplinary proceedings would be opened against both players.Valverde's lengthy statement, which he is said to have written himself, denied that a physical altercation took place and claimed that he had hit his head by accident during the heat of the argument.He concluded by saying that he was "at the club's and [his] teammates' disposal to cooperate with any decision they consider necessary."The series of incidents between Valverde and Tchouameni followed another altercation between Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Carreras at the training ground as well as a string of controversies around star striker Kylian Mbappe.Mbappe, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, has been heavily criticised by some Madrid supporters who felt it was inappropriate for him to take a trip to Italy with his partner while the team are struggling.Sources also said Mbappe insulted a member of Madrid's coaching staff during a training session in April.

A petition with over 47 million signatures at the time of writing is calling for the Frenchman to be axed.Mbappe's representatives told the Athletic that some of the criticism "is based on an overinterpretation of elements related to a recovery period strictly supervised by the club, and does not reflect the reality of Kylian's commitment and daily work for the team."Valverde and potentially Mbappe's unavailability for the Clasico is the least of Madrid's worries. Barcelona need just a point from the game to confirm the title against their arch-rivals, who face a second successive trophy-less season and uncertainty over the futures of various squad members.The anarchy that has unfolded could present an opportunity for other clubs to take advantage.With sources close to two senior players speculating to The Athletic that it would be "impossible" for both Valverde and Tchouameni to stay at the club, could Liverpool - who are in desperate need of a dominant defensive midfielder - return for the latter?Tchouameni is a strong presence in front of Madrid's defence, ranking in the top 5% of LaLiga midfielders for defensive contributions, tackles, interceptions and clearances, and has won 75.3% of the aerial duels he has contested this season.He is also a tempo-setter from the base of midfield, ranking in the top 5% for overall touches and passes completed.A player of his profile could bring the best out of the Reds' other midfielders, providing cover for the creativity and ball-carrying ability of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch as well as potentially unlocking Florian Wirtz in the No.

10 position.While Valverde is also a world-class footballer and would improve any team, his alleged culpability for the incident - especially, if sources are to be believed, if this is merely the tip of the iceberg - raises questions as to which sides would take the risk of signing him.It remains to be seen if Liverpool will explore the possibility of a deal for Tchouameni, but the real winners from Madrid's crisis appear to be Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, the latter of which reached a second consecutive Champions League final with their aggregate 6-5 victory over Bayern on Wednesday night.