Real Madrid's dressing room has been fractured since October, and Thursday's shocking altercation between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde may have been the breaking point. The fight turned ugly, with Valverde suffering a facial cut and concussion that required a hospital visit. The club has since opened disciplinary proceedings against both players.

But according to MARCA, this wasn't just a random flare-up. It's the explosive result of months of tension that have divided the squad like never before.

The cracks first appeared when several players openly voiced their frustration with former manager Xabi Alonso. What started as quiet discontent quickly snowballed into a full-blown internal rift, creating opposing factions and a steadily toxic atmosphere.

The trouble began in October. That's when senior figures—including captains Vinicius Jr. and Valverde—stopped hiding their disapproval of Alonso's methods. Their complaints centered on the grueling tactical intensity of training sessions, endless video analysis meetings, and a coaching style they felt was too rigid.

But players who remained loyal to Alonso saw things differently. They believed the criticism was just a cover for Vinicius's personal frustration after being repeatedly benched. From that moment, the locker room split into two camps.

One group stood firmly behind Alonso's vision. The other—including stars like Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga—felt his approach was harming player performance. Those backing Alonso grew frustrated by what they saw as disrespect toward the coach, while some players reportedly began undermining his authority.

The divide has only deepened since, and Thursday's fight may be the final sign that this squad needs more than just a tactical reset—it needs to find a way back to unity.