Real Madrid are reportedly dealing with renewed tension inside their dressing room, with Spanish radio station Cadena SER claiming that two players recently became involved in a physical confrontation.
The identities of the players have not been disclosed, but the reported incident adds to concerns surrounding the atmosphere within the squad.
The claim comes several months after midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni were reportedly involved in an altercation during a turbulent 2025-26 campaign.
Mourinho Yet to End Reported Friction
According to Cadena SER, the mood around the Real Madrid squad remains strained despite Jose Mourinho’s return to the club and his reputation for demanding discipline from his players.
Journalist Anton Meana described the atmosphere as still “icy”, suggesting that the Portuguese manager has so far been unable to fully resolve the tensions that reportedly existed before his arrival.
Meana also claimed that the squad had struggled to establish a positive relationship with both Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa during the previous campaign.
Unnamed Players Reportedly Came to Blows
The latest reported confrontation is understood to have taken place inside the dressing room, although few details about the incident have emerged.
Meana said the situation reflected an atmosphere that remained largely unchanged from five months earlier, while also linking the tension to what he described as the ongoing “Mbappe affair.”
The reference concerns Kylian Mbappe’s recent injury and the circumstances surrounding his recovery during the international break.
Mbappe Withdraws From France Squad
Mbappe was withdrawn from France’s squad after scoring the winning goal against Turkey in the opening match of the international break.
The French Football Federation said the Real Madrid forward had suffered a tendon injury in his left knee.
He subsequently returned to training on Wednesday and is expected to be available when Real Madrid resume their domestic campaign.
Before returning to Spain, however, Mbappe was seen in Paris with his partner, Ester Exposito, before travelling to the Swiss Alps.
Cycling Video Creates Fresh Mourinho Issue
Mbappe later posted a video of himself cycling through a scenic location in Switzerland, appearing relaxed as he rode through the countryside.
The footage reportedly frustrated Mourinho because of comments the manager had made about cycling and other activities that could potentially put his players at risk of injury.
Mourinho had previously stressed that professional footballers needed to consider their careers in virtually every aspect of their lives, including activities away from the training ground.
“You are a football player 24 hours a day,” Mourinho said. “Everything reflects the job.”
He specifically warned against activities such as skiing and cycling, arguing that an accident could leave a player unavailable for matches or result in a more serious injury.
Mourinho Reportedly Confronts Mbappe
Mourinho is reported to have spoken to Mbappe after the forward returned to Real Madrid, with the manager said to have urged his star player to exercise greater discretion away from the pitch.
Marca journalist Pablo Polo also claimed that Mourinho was unhappy with the way Mbappe handled his recovery and his movements during the period.
“Mourinho did not appreciate how Mbappe managed his recovery,” Polo said, adding that the coach was also unhappy that the forward returned on Monday after training.
Real Madrid’s Mixed Start Under Mourinho
Real Madrid have won five of their opening seven LaLiga matches under Mourinho but currently sit six points behind Barcelona.
The reported dressing room dispute and the disagreement surrounding Mbappe’s recovery come amid a campaign in which the club has already faced several incidents involving players and coaches.
