Real Madrid’s summer rebuild has entered its second phase, and the focus has now shifted from arrivals to departures.
Mourinho Delivers Brutal Verdict to Asencio: No Role in Real Madrid’s New Era
After strengthening key areas with several high-profile signings, the club is working to reduce an overcrowded dressing room.
One player increasingly facing an uncertain future is 23-year-old centre-back Raul Asencio.
According to Alberto Pereiro on Radioestadio Noche, new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has personally informed Asencio that he is not part of his plans for the upcoming 2026/27 season.
The Portuguese coach has already held talks with the academy graduate and made it clear that he is unlikely to feature regularly in the new campaign.
The decision comes as Real Madrid continue reshaping their defensive department following a busy transfer window.
The arrivals of Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, and Marc Cucurella have significantly increased competition across the backline.
With Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, and Dean Huijsen also competing for central defensive spots, Mourinho now has an abundance of options that have created a selection headache.
Club officials are now focused on reducing squad size before considering any further additions.
Despite Mourinho’s clear stance, Asencio has shown no intention of walking away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
The young defender is prepared to use pre-season as an opportunity to change the manager’s opinion and believes consistent performances in training could still earn him a role during the 2026/27 campaign.
His determination has remained unchanged even after attracting interest from Chelsea, who have explored the possibility of bringing the Spanish defender to the Premier League this summer.
However, Asencio has rejected the prospect of leaving for Stamford Bridge, believing the timing is not right to abandon his ambition of succeeding at Real Madrid.
Those close to the player maintain that his priority has always been to fight for his place rather than seek regular football elsewhere.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Asencio’s potential exit has been planned since June in conjunction with Mourinho, with the club open to either a permanent transfer or a loan deal depending on the proposals received.
Asencio signed a contract extension in June 2025 that runs until 2031, meaning the player’s decision will ultimately be key to any departure.
