Federico Valverde needed stitches at a hospital near Real Madrid's training complex on Thursday after a clash with midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, Spanish media reported.
The Uruguay international suffered a facial wound during the incident. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa accompanied him to the hospital facility near Valdebebas, where medical staff treated the cut.
Tensions between the two players had been brewing since Wednesday's training session. The argument escalated on Thursday when Valverde refused to shake Tchouameni's hand and later fouled the French midfielder during training. The pair then scuffled in the dressing room, and that was when Valverde sustained the injury.
Marcha, the Spanish newspaper that first reported the story, said the cut was unintentional and not caused directly by a punch from Tchouameni. Real Madrid and the agents representing both players declined to comment when contacted about what happened.
The incident comes at a tense moment for the club. Real Madrid is chasing major trophies after a disappointing season where they have won nothing so far. The pressure is mounting as they prepare for Sunday's La Liga Clasico against Barcelona at Camp Nou.
Barcelona holds an 11-point lead at the top of the table and can clinch back-to-back league titles if they avoid defeat on Sunday. Real Madrid's internal friction now threatens to derail their hopes of closing the gap when they face their biggest rivals.
Neither Valverde nor Tchouameni has made any public statement about the altercation. Real Madrid will assess the midfielder's fitness ahead of Sunday's match.
