Real Madrid have had multiple breakthrough stars come to life in the last decade. Midfielder Fede Valverde, Andriy Lunin are just a couple of them, and Real Madrid have found another one this season.
When they needed a center-back most, Raul Asencio became that player for Real Madrid. He drastically improved his positioning and maturity from his Castilla days and is now considered undroppable in Real Madrid's biggest matches.
He has recently made the Spain National Team squad for the first time in his career, and even though he has yet to make an official debut for his country, just the fact that he is there shows how good he has been this season.
More appearances are set to follow for him as well as for a Real Madrid target named Dean Huijsen. Asencio was also asked in the build-up to the Spain-Italy match about what his main goal is with Real Madrid, and he replied with something that a Real Madrid fan would love to hear.
Asencio told El Chiringuito: "My dream is to win the Champions League with Real Madrid."
Asencio has been a brilliant addition, and I have no doubt that he would one day win the Champions League with Real Madrid one day. I don't know if that happens this season, but it is bound to happen at some point.
It just goes to show how high his mentality level is as well, as he knows there is no point setting the bar low. He is made for Real Madrid, and even though things look slim for them to win this time around, there is still a chance.
Part of the reason why it is a 'huge' claim is because of just that. Real Madrid, even though they have a great squad, have not seemed convincing in a bunch of their biggest games of the season, and it is a tall ask for them to win the Champions League, even though it is still very much possible.