Raul Asencio (foto: Getty Images)
Raul Asencio has taken full advantage of his opportunity, stepping up due to injuries to David Alaba and Eder Militao, proving to be a key asset for Real Madrid this season.
At least within Spain, the Canary Islands are not traditionally associated with producing top footballers as strongly as some other Spanish regions. However, some of the country's most celebrated players in the last two decades have emerged from this part of Spain.
The first major Canarian football star was Juan Carlos Valeron, the legendary Deportivo La Coruna midfielder. He was followed by David Silva, and today, the biggest name from the region is Barcelona's Pedri. However, Real Madrid's future might belong to Raul Asencio, the 22-year-old center-back who has been one of the biggest revelations of the season.
Raul Asencio challenges the belief that young talents must break through at 17 or 18. Instead, he has forced his way into the first team at 21. His career trajectory might have looked very different had it not been for the serious injuries to Eder Militao and David Alaba, as well as Aurelien Tchouameni's struggles when deployed as a makeshift defender.
Carlo Ancelotti had little choice but to throw Asencio into the fire, but after 23 first-team appearances, there is no doubt: Raul Asencio is much more than just a stopgap.
"A big European night against a big rival... These are the games that define a player. That applies to Raul Asencio more than anyone else. Even more than Mbappe, who has long been an established star. Raul Asencio stood out," said influential expert Jorge Valdano after the Real Madrid vs. Manchester City clash.
Raul Asencio is not what you’d expect from a player who seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He is loud, dominant, and fearless—a commanding presence in Real Madrid's defense. In many ways, he is eerily reminiscent of Sergio Ramos, who was the backbone of the club’s backline for nearly fifteen years.
He was outstanding against Manchester City, celebrating each defensive action with passion. He even assisted Kylian Mbappe's opening goal, further proving his growing importance to the team. His confidence is evident not just in his performances but also in his words. Asencio is anything but an inexperienced youngster still adjusting to life in Real Madrid's first team.
When asked whether he preferred facing Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League round of 16, he responded bluntly: "Atletico or Bayer Leverkusen? It doesn't matter. I don't care. We are Real Madrid."
The Spanish media have been hinting for months that signing a new center-back is one of Real Madrid's top priorities in the summer transfer window. With Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Eder Militao all dealing with injury concerns and age-related issues, the idea of bringing in a young defender with long-term potential—someone like Arsenal's William Saliba—is gaining traction.
But considering Raul Asencio’s rapid rise, will Real Madrid really need to invest in another center-back?