The players clashed moments after Villarreal had earned a dramatic 3-2 win with two goals in the last 20 minutes at Real’s Bernabeu home.
Valverde, 24, confronted Baena – a Spain under-21 international – in the area where the team buses park up at the stadium.
The pair had also clashed during the game, with Valverde having told Baena that he would confront him after the match.
Reports in Spain suggested that Villarreal have video footage of the alleged incident and that police are aware.
The Athletic has been told by sources, who wish to remain anonymous to protect their relationships, that the pair’s feud dates back to a meeting between the teams in January in the Copa del Rey when Baena directed a personal insult at Valverde. Baena has since denied that on social media.
Real Madrid declined to comment when contacted by The Athletic. However, Xisco Nadal, a club official, tweeted after the game that Valverde was “a coward”, which he later deleted.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted his players had failed to reproduce the performance levels which had seen them thrash Barcelona in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Wednesday, but that the defeat would not hamper their preparations for next week’s Champions League clash with Chelsea.
“All the players had a lower level than normal,” he said. “Motivation is difficult to maintain at 100 per cent because the wear and tear against Barcelona was very big. It is quite normal. This defeat hurts us.
