Villarreal’s Baena reports ‘assault’ by Madrid’s Valverde
Villarreal’s Alex Baena grabs Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde by the shirt during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Saturday, April 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
MADRID (AP) — Villarreal player Alejandro Baena has reported an alleged assault on him by Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde after Villarreal’s 3-2 win on Saturday.
Villarreal said Sunday in a statement that Baena formally reported the alleged attack to authorities.
Baena said on his Twitter account that he was “very happy for the incredible victory of my team at a stadium like the Santiago Bernabéu, but at the same time very sad for the assault I have suffered after the game.”
Spanish radio Cadena Ser and other media outlets reported late on Saturday night that Valverde allegedly hit Baena while the Villarreal player was about to board the team bus.
The reports said that Valverde was supposedly angry at Baena for his alleged insults during the Spanish league match, including a comment about his son.
In his message on Twitter, Baena denied having insulted Valverde’s son: “I am surprised about what is being said about me. It is completely false that I said that.”
Madrid has not publicly commented about the alleged incident.
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