Raúl Asencio Returns to Real Madrid Squad for Rayo Vallecano Match
José Mourinho has named his Real Madrid squad for Saturday’s league meeting with Rayo Vallecano, and one name jumps off the page.
Raúl Asencio is back.
The young Spanish centre-back returns after more than six weeks out, having finally shaken off the muscular problem in his rectus femoris and a subsequent setback in his shin. It has been a stop-start spell on the treatment table, a period long enough to derail a season before it even begins.
He has not played a single competitive minute under Mourinho yet. That could change soon.
A timely return for Mourinho
Asencio’s clearance to rejoin the group came in stages: first light work, then full sessions, then, this week, normal involvement with the squad. That steady build-up convinced the medical staff and Mourinho to bring him into the matchday group for the fifth round of the Spanish league.
The timing helps the coach. Real Madrid face a congested run of fixtures, with league games dropping into midweek and the calendar tightening around a defence already stretched. An extra body in central defence is no luxury; it is a necessity.
Asencio offers that option now, even if he still has to win Mourinho’s trust on the pitch.
A turbulent summer off the field
His return also closes a chaotic chapter off the field.
The defender’s summer had been dominated by uncertainty. He came close to leaving Real Madrid, with his future seemingly heading away from the Bernabéu, before injury froze any negotiations and kept him in limbo.
Off the pitch, the story was no calmer. Asencio was recently acquitted in the court case linked to a video in which he appeared. At almost the same time, another court in Gran Canaria convicted him of driving under the influence of alcohol last August.
Mourinho did not hide his frustration. The coach publicly reminded him of the standards required at Real Madrid, stating that a player represents the club “24 hours a day” and warning that off-field behaviour can damage both personal and club reputation. The message was clear: talent alone is not enough here.
Now the defender stands at a crossroads. Fit again, with his legal situation clarified and the transfer window behind him, the focus turns sharply back to football. He has a chance to reset his story under Mourinho, but it will be judged on performances, not promises.
Key absences and full squad list
While Asencio steps in, other big names step out. Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo all miss the squad for the Rayo Vallecano match, underlining why Mourinho will welcome any extra defensive depth he can get.
Real Madrid squad vs Rayo Vallecano
- Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Sergio Mestre.
- Defence: Asencio, Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Cucurella, Carreras, Rüdiger, Dumfries.
- Midfield: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva, Thiago Pitarch.
- Attack: Vinícius, Endrick, Mbappé, Espí, Brahim Díaz, Diomandé.
Asencio is back in the list. The question now is simple: how long will it take for his name to be back on the teamsheet?
