A significant disagreement reportedly erupted at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich’s Champions League opponent, involving head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and defender Raul Asencio. This purported clash resulted in the young center-back being excluded from the squad for several matches.
According to *Marca*, the roots of this dispute trace back to the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester City several weeks ago. For that match, Arbeloa opted for Antonio Rüdiger and Dean Huijsen in the central defense, leaving Asencio on the bench for the entire 90 minutes of the 3-0 victory at the Bernabeu.
The 23-year-old reportedly did not accept this decision silently. He was said to be furious and subsequently confronted Arbeloa about it.
The coach then planned to start Asencio in the subsequent La Liga game against Elche. However, this did not materialize as the defender, accompanied by a doctor, appeared in Arbeloa’s office, reporting minor muscle discomfort. He allegedly stated he didn’t feel fit enough to play, which reportedly drew Arbeloa’s ire.
Raul Asencio Pressured to Apologize to Teammates
The last-minute withdrawal was also ill-received by Rüdiger, who had been scheduled for rest against Elche. The German international, known for his strict match-day routines, was forced to play despite expecting to be on the bench.
Asencio was subsequently omitted from the squad for the Elche match, the Champions League return leg against City, and the following La Liga game against Atletico, despite training normally during that period. According to *Marca*, Arbeloa’s reasoning was that Asencio had failed to apologize to the team for his criticism regarding being benched against City.
Subsequently, Asencio reportedly apologized to his coach but not to his teammates. This remained the case even when Arbeloa tried to create an opening for an apology at the end of a training session, asking, «Does anyone else have something to say?»
It was only after the international break that Asencio relented and apologized to his teammates for his actions before the City match and his last-minute withdrawal from the Elche game. He was reinstated into the squad for the subsequent fixtures against Mallorca and FC Bayern, though he did not feature in either match.
Raul Asencio’s Contract with Real Madrid Runs Until 2031
Asencio, a product of Real Madrid’s youth academy, has fluctuated between the starting lineup and the bench this season. While he has played in 30 competitive matches, this was partly due to persistent injury woes within Real’s defense. More recently, he has often found himself behind Rüdiger and Huijsen. Furthermore, Eder Militao, who came on as a substitute against Bayern, has also been fit since the end of March.
Asencio made his breakthrough with Real’s senior squad in the 2024/25 season, impressing as a reliable defensive asset under former coach Carlo Ancelotti amid the absence of several key players. This earned him a contract extension in the summer of 2025, with Asencio signing a deal that ties him to Real until 2031.
Raul Asencio’s Performance Statistics This Season
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 30 |
| Full 90-minute appearances | 16 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 1 | Yellow Cards | 6 | Red Cards | 1 |