Real Madrid’s 2025/26 season ended without any silverware for a second consecutive year, a run of results that has been described in extreme terms given the expectations at the Santiago Bernabéu. The disappointment was framed as a deep institutional slump, with comparisons drawn to dramatic collapses seen elsewhere in top-level football, underlining how far standards have slipped by the club’s usual measure.
Real Madrid’s 2025/26 season ended without any silverware for a second consecutive year, a run of results that has been described in extreme terms given the expectations at the Santiago Bernabéu. The disappointment was framed as a deep institutional slump, with comparisons drawn to dramatic collapses seen elsewhere in top-level football, underlining how far standards have slipped by the club’s usual measure.
Across the squad, almost every leading player was judged to have fallen short of expectations in some form, contributing to the overall sense of failure. The lack of trophies intensified scrutiny on both performances and the broader direction of the team.
One of the most damaging moments of the season was a physical confrontation between midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde, an incident that resulted in Valverde requiring hospital treatment. Neither player emerged positively from the episode, which quickly became a focal point of speculation about deeper issues within the squad.
In the aftermath, reports intensified around internal suspicion involving Tchouaméni, while Valverde was also portrayed in some coverage as the more aggressive figure, raising questions about his suitability for a leadership role such as club captain. The situation added further strain to an already fragile dressing-room atmosphere.
Amid ongoing rumours about possible summer moves for both players, club president Florentino Pérez addressed their situations during remarks tied to preparations for his own electoral ambitions against Enrique Riquelme. According to his comments, both midfielders were firmly expected to remain at the club, stating: “Valverde and Tchouaméni will stay? For me, yes, of course.”
Pérez’s stance was interpreted as strong backing for two players he is believed to value highly within the squad. Valverde, credited with major contributions to two Champions League triumphs and three domestic league titles, is seen as the more decorated of the pair, while Tchouaméni—already a Champions League winner—has yet to match that level of influence. Despite speculation linking them with potential moves abroad, both are currently regarded as staying put, though the situation could still evolve before the transfer window closes.
