Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender clarifies ‘Ask Arbeloa’ comment over lack of game time
Earlier today, Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio briefly interacted with fans and media near the club’s training ground when he was asked about his recent absence from the team.
Asencio has not played for Real Madrid since the win over Celta Vigo, when he pushed himself to be available despite having been dealing with a neck injury.
He was benched in the first leg of the UCL Round of 16 against Manchester City and was then completely absent from the squad for three games – Elche, the second leg vs Man City, and the derby against Atletico Madrid – a consequence of an alleged argument with Alvaro Arbeloa.
Even though he was back in the squad against Mallorca and Bayern Munich this month, he did not play any minute.
So, when asked about the situation, the 23-year-old cryptically replied: “You should ask Arbeloa about that…,” indicating that there was still some tension between himself and the manager.
Asencio clarifies statement
With his response going viral on social media, Asencio has taken to X to clarify his statement and get a handle over the situation.
No entiendo las vueltas que le dais a las cosas.
— Raúl Asencio (@RaulAsencio_17) April 9, 2026
El Míster es el que manda, pone y quita a los jugadores.
Tengo el máximo respeto hacia él y todo mis compañeros.
Un saludo a todos y Hala Madrid🤍 https://t.co/cznE2rwn8V
Suggesting that his comment was being blown out of proportions, the Real Madrid defender wrote:
“I don’t understand the fuss you all make about things.”
He then clarified that what he meant was that the manager decides who plays and that he fully respects Arbeloa as well as his teammates.
“The Manager is the one in charge, he puts the players in and takes them out. I have the utmost respect for him and all my teammates. Greetings to everyone and Hala Madrid!”
With Real Madrid likely to rotate against Girona tomorrow, it remains to be seen if Asencio gets a chance or whether Arbeloa continues to ignore the defender.
Real Madrid’s win over Villarreal was not as tidy as Jose Mourinho would have hoped, but the team did manage to take all three points without conceding a single goal.
For a team that had kept only one clean sheet up until Saturday’s game, that came as a massive accomplishment, much to the delight of Thibaut Courtois.
It was, however, a special night for the goalkeeper even beyond the clean sheet, and it was the night when he debuted his own glove brand – one which bears a close connection to his roots when he was still at Genk.
A change in representation
For the past three seasons, Courtois has been associated with Elite Sport, which has made the gloves he dons. Now, the player has returned to GOAL – the brand which was with him from the grassroots level, as reported by MARCA.
His change from Elite Sports to GOAL, however, is not merely a change in representation but far more, as Courtois has gone on to acquire the Belgian glove brand – starting a new venture in the process.
In that sense, his decision to start wearing gloves of the new brand not only promotes his own personal brand and business but also pays homage to a company that supported him at the very beginning.
Elite Sport have even confirmed the same in an official statement, saying,
“Thibaut has acquired a local Belgian goalkeeper glove brand and has chosen to use gloves from his own brand.”
A need for defensive improvement
One of Jose Mourinho’s biggest concerns over Real Madrid’s start to the season, needless to say, has been the team’s defensive record, which has been poor given how much they spent on defensive reinforcements in the summer.
Returning from the international break, Los Blancos oversaw the second clean sheet of their season against Villarreal, and have thus started on the right foot.
What is more important, however, is that the trend continues and both Courtois and the defense will be crucial in the same.
So far this season, the Belgian goalkeeper has played 720 minutes for Real Madrid and has made 25 saves with a save percentage of 76%. Having just two clean sheets, needless to say, is harsh on how good the player has been.
