Raul Asencio's Struggles at Real Madrid: A Road to Redemption
Raul Asencio’s road back at Real Madrid is already steep. He is the one who made it almost vertical.
The 23-year-old defender, once tipped as a long-term piece of the club’s future, is now fighting to save his career at the Santiago Bernabeu after a series of serious off-field mistakes that have dragged his name into the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Mourinho walks into a storm
When Real Madrid stunned European football in June by bringing Jose Mourinho back on a three-year deal, the focus was supposed to be on tactics, titles and a new era. Instead, the Portuguese coach walked into a dressing room loaded with subplots.
There was the noise around Vinicius Junior, heavily linked with Arsenal before eventually signing his new contract this summer. That saga dominated the early weeks.
But the most delicate issue waiting on Mourinho’s desk concerned Asencio.
Drink-driving case and heavy fine
On August 16, at around 6:30am in southern Gran Canaria, police stopped Asencio at a breathalyser checkpoint while he was driving a Porsche Macan GTS. The tests showed he was over the legal alcohol limit.
According to Spanish outlet Atlantico Hoy, the initial and secondary breath tests produced readings of 0.90 and 0.88 milligrams of alcohol per litre of exhaled air. Spain’s legal limit is 0.25 mg/l. He was more than three times over.
The case moved quickly. Asencio was summoned to a fast-track trial and handed a €14,400 (£12,480) fine, calculated at €120 per day over four months. He also received an eight‑month driving ban.
For any player, it would be a serious stain. For a young defender trying to cement his place at Real Madrid, it is potentially career-altering.
Another court date looming
The drink-driving ruling is not the only legal matter hanging over him.
The trial came just one day before Asencio was due back in court in a separate case relating to the alleged sharing of a sexually explicit video, reportedly recorded in 2023 by three of his former Real Madrid youth academy teammates.
Asencio is accused of showing explicit images of two female complainants to another person on his mobile phone. He has privately apologised to both women and paid them compensation, with reports stating that they have forgiven him. The legal process, though, has added another layer of scrutiny to his behaviour and judgement.
Real Madrid’s internal response
Inside the club, the situation has triggered formal action.
Real Madrid have opened disciplinary proceedings against Asencio over the drink-driving conviction. The internal investigation will determine the scale of his punishment, which could range from a financial penalty to another form of disciplinary sanction before he is fully reintegrated into the squad.
The sense around Valdebebas is clear: any route back will not be easy. Reports in Spain have even claimed that the club seriously considered selling him this summer, only for an injury to halt any potential move and freeze the market around him.
The message is unmistakable. His margin for error has almost vanished.
Mourinho’s challenge – and Asencio’s promise
Amid this turmoil, Asencio has tried to draw a line.
According to Defensa Central, he recognises the gravity of his mistakes in recent years and is determined to repair both his image and his career. He wants to return to his best level at Real Madrid and do it under Mourinho’s demanding eye.
To that end, he has already held a personal meeting with the coach. In that conversation, he is reported to have promised to focus entirely on football, to improve his performances and to leave his recent past behind him for good.
For Mourinho, the decision is as much about trust as talent. For Asencio, it is simpler still: either he proves he has changed, or he risks watching his Real Madrid future disappear for good.
