After losing both of their right backs, Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold, to medium-term injuries, Real Madrid have now missed out on one of their top priorities for central defense. Arsenal defender and France international William Saliba, whose contract was set to expire in 2027, has renewed his deal through 2030.
It means that Real Madrid will have to turn elsewhere as they look to reinforce their backline, and it could very well be a blessing in disguise for one player in particular: Raúl Asencio.
The Las Palmas native joined Real Madrid in 2017, ascending through the youth ranks and eventually breaking into the first team in 2024/25 under Carlo Ancelotti following long-term injuries to Éder Militão and David Alaba.
Asencio took the opportunity by the scruff of its neck, making 46 appearances across all competitions, earning a maiden call-up to the Spanish national team, and emerging as one of the best center-backs at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio must step up now
This season, however, Asencio has found himself surplus to requirements. After riding the bench for the first three matches of the campaign, Asencio came on for the final half-hour vs. Real Sociedad on September 13, before coming on in the 73rd minute vs. Marseille. In both situations, he replaced a more attack-minded player and helped a 10-man Real shore up their defense and prevail with a 2-1 win.
New Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has typically partnered Militao with summer signing Dean Huijsen in the middle, but Asencio did get a chance to start following Huijsen's red card vs. Real Sociedad, winning 4 out of 6 ground duels and completing 89 out of 92 passes in a 2-0 win vs. Espanyol. He remained in the starting XI as Alonso decided to rest Militao ahead of the Madrid derby, with the Spaniard impressing on the right side of a back three in a 4-1 win at Levante.
However, he failed to cover himself in glory vs. Atletico after replacing Militão at halftime, allowing Atleti to score three unanswered goals and prevail with a 5-2 victory. Nevertheless, Asencio would return to the XI in the following game in Kazakhstan, operating as a right back in a 5-0 win vs. Kairat Almaty.
All signs point to Asencio dropping to the bench for their upcoming match vs. Villarreal, but he could have an important role to play off the bench. Unlike David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger, who look set to depart on free transfers next summer, Asencio has time on his side with a contract until 2031.
At 22 years of age, he's still well away from reaching his prime, and he could very well become a reliable figure for years to come. Similar to Nacho, he may never become a full-fledged starter, but that doesn't mean he can't become a club icon at Real Madrid.