Overview
- Real Madrid's centre-back depth has been reduced by Dean Huijsen's one-match suspension, Ibrahima Konaté's injury while with France, and Éder Militão's ongoing absence, and that shortage could open a spot for Raúl Asencio despite him not yet featuring this season.
- Asencio refused transfer bids from Chelsea, Liverpool and a Turkish club over the summer and chose to remain at Real Madrid while hoping to earn a first-team chance.
- Off the field, Asencio was cleared in a separate leaking-of-secrets probe but later accepted a fast-track sanction for drink-driving that carried a €14,400 fine and an eight-month driving licence suspension.
- His availability still hinges on recovery from a tibia problem that has limited his match fitness and raised the possibility of surgery, so any selection would depend on fitness checks before the Villarreal game.
- The club signed Konaté in the summer, which pushed Asencio down the pecking order to a fringe role; if he plays, it could reshape his career path and affect how Real Madrid balances internal options versus transfer moves.