Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender returns to training with a huge challenge ahead of him
According to MARCA, Raul Asencio has returned to first-team training as he attempts to rebuild his position at Real Madrid after a difficult few months.
The centre-back has returned to group training after an eventful pre-season affected by two injuries and a series of off-field issues, with a difficult task ahead of him.
Asencio currently sits last in the centre-back pecking order, behind Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konate and Antonio Rudiger, with Eder Militao also ahead of him once the Brazilian returns to fitness.
That comes after the club spent the entire summer making it clear that Asencio could leave.
Eight difficult months
Asencio’s return is therefore a delicate one. He effectively has to start from zero.
The excitement surrounding his spectacular breakthrough into the first team has faded, while he has lost much of the advantage he had built up during his emergence.
His decline began in February and has proved difficult to stop. He has made just nine appearances since then, leaving him almost back where he started.
His return to group training on Thursday ahead of the upcoming match against Rayo represents a fresh starting point for the La Fabrica graduate.
Asencio’s objective is to wipe the slate clean and rebuild his position within Jose Mourinho’s squad.
A tibial fracture that began to affect Asencio at the start of the year was the first major setback.
Despite the problem, he refused to step away at a difficult moment for the team and continued pushing to remain available. However, the injury severely restricted him.
Then came his controversial disagreement with former manager Alvaro Arbeloa, which resulted in him being left out of several matchday squads.
One problem followed another, gradually overshadowing his season and eventually putting him on the transfer list.
Mourinho’s warning
Pre-season and the arrival of a new manager did little to help Asencio recover his previous standing. If anything, his situation became even more complicated.
Further injuries disrupted his progress, while his conviction for drink-driving created another major issue.
Mourinho did not hesitate to issue a strong warning, as he said: “A Real Madrid player is a Real Madrid player 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 12 months a year. Everything you do away from the club still represents Real Madrid.”
The Portuguese coach also stressed the consequences of repeated mistakes, saying: “You continue damaging the prestige of a club that is untouchable. I’m not happy. Everyone makes mistakes, but accumulated mistakes are different.”
That message underlines the scale of the challenge facing Asencio. The defender now has to put the off-field controversy behind him, regain his physical condition and convince Mourinho that he deserves another opportunity.
Real Madrid News
Ex-Real Madrid presidential candidate wanted to bring Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta as manager
The presidential election at Real Madrid this summer was something unprecedented but despite the best efforts of Enrique Riquelme, he couldn’t do much to dethrone Florentino Perez.
That being said, some of Riquelme’s ideas have now become more relevant than ever, including his pitch to sign Jurgen Klopp as the new manager, instead of Jose Mourinho.
However, Riquelme wasn’t always in favour of Klopp and in fact, had initially pitched Mikel Arteta as the next manager for Real Madrid.
Riquelme had favoured Arteta
According to The Athletic, Riquelme had identified Arteta as a potential successor to then-coach Alvaro Arbeloa as part of his election campaign.
The context came amid Arteta’s own contract situation at Arsenal, with the Spaniard having just signed a new four-year deal following the club’s Premier League triumph.
The report notes that Real Madrid were the biggest club searching for a new coach at the time, and Riquelme saw Arteta as an appealing candidate.
Ultimately, though, Riquelme’s campaign shifted towards Klopp, while Perez, who won the election, opted to bring back Mourinho.
As a result, Arteta’s name never progressed beyond an early consideration, and the Spaniard remained fully committed to Arsenal, where he continues to build on his growing legacy.
Arteta has consistently dismissed interest from elsewhere, including links to Barcelona in 2024.
Mourinho has his work cut out
While Real Madrid ultimately chose Mourinho, the early signs suggest the Portuguese has a significant task on his hands.
Los Blancos have endured a stuttering start to the season, already sitting well behind runaway leaders Barcelona in La Liga.
Performances have been inconsistent, with the team lacking intensity and cohesion, and reports have even pointed to unrest within the dressing room.
That has inevitably led to questions over whether a different appointment, such as Arteta or Klopp, might have offered a smoother transition.
Arteta, in particular, has proven his credentials by ending Arsenal’s long wait for a Premier League title, doing so against a dominant Manchester City.
For now, Mourinho must find a way to turn things around and justify Perez’s faith. With a demanding run of fixtures ahead, including El Clasico, the pressure is already building.
