Valverde ‘punches’ Villarreal player in car park after ‘derogatory remark’ following La Liga loss
Federico Valverde could face a 12-match suspension after he reportedly struck Alex Baena following Real Madrid’s 3-2 defeat to Villarreal on Saturday night.
Real Madrid’s La Liga title hopes were all but ended after their dramatic home defeat to the Yellow Submarine.
However, much of the reaction to the match has been about a reported altercation between Uruguay international Valverde and Baena afterward.
According to ESPN, Valverde waited by Villarreal’s team bus in the Bernabeu’s parking lot to confront Baena – who allegedly made a derogatory remark about the Madrid midfielder’s unborn child.
In February, Real Valverde’s partner Mina Bonino revealed on social media that they believed they had lost their child, before it was later revealed that the pregnancy was in fact healthy.
ESPN say Baena first made the comments when Madrid and Villarreal met in the Copa del Rey in January.
Baena reportedly said “cry, because your child won’t be born.”
Villarreal and Baena have not confirmed this but have deemed Valverde’s actions ‘unacceptable’.
Diario AS correspondent Javier Mata says Villarreal and Baena are not expected to report the incident despite having video evidence.
The club initially left it up to Baena to decide whether or not he wanted to press charges.
A ban for assault ranges between four and 12 matches. The incident was not in the referee’s report and will only be acted upon if there is an official complaint.
Valverde’s actions were confirmed by Marca, who said that the 24-year-old was reacting to new comments made by Baena.
The Villarreal player tweeted after the game: ‘Very happy with the impressive victory for the team on a stage like the Santiago Bernabeu, but at the same time very sad about the aggression I suffered after the match.
‘[I am] surprised by what is being said about my person. It is totally false that I said [comments about Valverde’s family].’
He also denied the claims on social media on Sunday morning, writing: ‘Very happy with the team’s impressive victory in a place like the Santiago Bernabeu, but at the same time very sad about the aggression I suffered after the match and surprised by what is being said about me. IT IS TOTALLY UNTRUE THAT I SAID THAT.’
Barcelona are expected to win the La Liga title this season with Madrid now 12 points behind their arch-rivals.
Los Blancos can still win the Champions League, however, and face an out-of-form Chelsea side in their quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
The two sides met each other in the same stage of the competition last season and also faced off in the last four in 2020-21.
Madrid were victorious last term after a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge and a 3-2 defeat at home.
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