Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde allegedly punched Villarreal's Alex Baena in the car park of the Santiago Bernabeu after Saturday night’s La Liga clash.
Villarreal, who are chasing a Champions League qualification spot in La Liga, secured a memorable and dramatic victory after scoring two goals in the final 20 minutes to beat the defending league and European champions 3-2 in the Spanish capital.
Los Blancos midfielder and Uruguay international Valverde is said to have waited by the Villarreal team bus in the stadium's parking lot after the encounter, before confronting Baena. It is claimed he asked the Villarreal player to repeat what he had said on the pitch before attacking him.
As detailed by ESPN, Valverde’s angered reaction stemmed from alleged derogatory remarks from Baena about the Uruguayan’s unborn child – which the Villarreal player denies. The report alleges that Baena had told Valverde in an on-pitch moment during a Copa del Rey clash in January: "cry, because your child won't be born."
Valverde's partner Mina Bonino publicly revealed in February that the couple had feared that they would lose their unborn child before further tests showed that the pregnancy was healthy.
Baena tweeted later in the evening : “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 completely false that I said [comments about Valverde's family].”
A report from Marca claims that Villarreal have video footage of the incident and the player is considering approaching the police. Footage of Baena later in the evening appeared to show that his jaw was swollen. Villarreal team delegate, Xisco Nadal posted on Twitter after the alleged incident, in a now-deleted tweet: "Fede Valverde, loutish and cowardly."
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti lamented on Spanish TV station Movistar Plus after the match: “It was a difficult game, we had chances and we could have made it 3-1 and slowed down the pace of the game, but it didn't happen.
“We could have defended better. To be honest, it was hard for us to be 100 per cent motivated, it's quite normal.”
Looking ahead to the first leg of their Champions League quarter final clash against Chelsea on Wednesday, Ancelotti added: “We have no doubts, Wednesday is a different story. The temperature has dropped a little today, but on Wednesday it will be at full strength.”
