Carreras denies dressing-room clash as Real Madrid's internal tensions mount
Synopsis
Carreras' denial masks deeper unrest. Real Madrid's dressing room is fracturing — strained relationships, hidden frustrations, and selection chaos now threaten the season's defining fixture. The Clásico arrives amid emotional instability that no single statement can paper over.
Key Takeaways
Álvaro Carreras denied dressing-room clash reports on 6 May , calling allegations "minor" and "resolved." RMC Sport reports suggest broader squad disharmony, strained relationships, and mounting frustration within Real Madrid .
Ferland Mendy suffered a season-ending muscle injury; Fran García is now the left-back option.
Dani Ceballos trained indoors on Wednesday with ankle discomfort but had already been sidelined since early April.
Real Madrid faces Barcelona in Sunday's Clásico ; a loss would crown Barcelona La Liga champions.
Álvaro Carreras, the 23-year-old Real Madrid defender, has flatly denied reports of a physical altercation in the squad's dressing room, issuing a statement on social media on 6 May to counter claims first reported by Spanish radio station Onda Cero. The left-back, signed from Benfica last summer, stated that recent allegations "do not correspond to reality" and emphasised his unwavering commitment to the club and coaching staff.
What Carreras said
In his social media statement, Carreras acknowledged that an incident with a teammate had occurred but characterised it as "minor" and "already resolved." He wrote: "My commitment to this club and to the coaches has been absolute from day one and will continue to be so. Regarding the incident with a teammate, it's a minor, isolated matter that's already been resolved. My relationship with the whole team is very good."
The broader dressing-room picture
Despite Carreras' reassurances, reports from RMC Sport and Defensa Central suggest deeper fractures within Real Madrid's squad. According to these accounts, dressing-room harmony has weakened considerably over the season, relationships between key figures have grown strained, and frustrations are no longer contained. The 2024–25 campaign has been marked by inconsistency, on-pitch disappointment, and mounting pressure — conditions that appear to have taken an emotional toll on the group.
Selection fallout and injury complications
Carreras was omitted from Real Madrid's 2-0 away victory against Espanyol on Sunday, with Fran García preferred at left back following Ferland Mendy's season-ending muscle injury. Meanwhile, midfielder Dani Ceballos trained individually indoors on Wednesday due to right ankle discomfort, according to MARCA. However, Ceballos had already disappeared from head coach Álvaro Arbeloa's tactical plans weeks earlier — he has not featured since recovering from injury in early April, despite being medically cleared for selection.
The Clásico looms
García is expected to retain his place when Real Madrid faces Barcelona in Sunday's Clásico, a fixture where anything short of a Madrid victory would mathematically crown Barcelona as La Liga champions. The timing of these internal tensions, combined with selection uncertainty and injury setbacks, adds another layer of complexity to one of the season's most consequential matches.
Point of View
Not clarity. The real story is that Real Madrid's season has unravelled not just on the pitch but in the dressing room — relationships fractured, key players benched or injured, and cohesion eroded to the point where denials sound hollow. The Clásico arrives at the worst possible moment: a squad in emotional freefall.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Álvaro Carreras say about the dressing-room incident?
Carreras denied the reports on 6 May, stating that recent allegations "do not correspond to reality." He acknowledged an incident with a teammate but described it as "minor" and "already resolved," and emphasised his commitment to the club and coaching staff.
What did Onda Cero originally report?
Spanish radio station Onda Cero reported that Carreras had been struck by a teammate following an argument between La Liga matches against Alavés and Real Betis.
Why was Carreras left out of the Espanyol match?
Carreras was omitted from Real Madrid's 2–0 away win against Espanyol on Sunday, with Fran García preferred at left back after Ferland Mendy suffered a season-ending muscle injury.
What is the broader situation within Real Madrid's squad?
Reports from RMC Sport and Defensa Central suggest dressing-room harmony has weakened significantly, relationships between key figures have become strained, and frustrations are no longer contained. This comes amid a season marked by inconsistency and on-pitch disappointment.
When is the Clásico and why does it matter?
Real Madrid faces Barcelona in Sunday's Clásico. A Madrid loss would mathematically crown Barcelona as La Liga champions, making it one of the season's most consequential fixtures — and it arrives amid internal squad tensions.
