Real Madrid defender rejects easy path as Mourinho decision looms

One area of their team that Real Madrid have considered most seriously while planning the reinforcements for the next season is the defense. This is quite clear from the fact that of the four signings they have already completed, three are defenders, i.e., Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, and Denzel Dumfries.

These new additions of experienced proven players is definitely exciting, as they would provide a lot of quality and depth for the new coach Jose Mourinho, as he starts his second managerial stint with the Merengue club.

However, this situation would be particularly worrisome for some of the current players in the squad, whose future roles in the team are quite uncertain at the moment. This is particularly the case with the center-back Raul Asencio, as he now would have players like Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konate, Eder Militao, and possibly yet another new center-back, to compete with next season.

In such a context, it would have been understandable if he took the route preferred by some other recent academy graduates like Jacobo Ramon, Mario Gila, Rafa Marin, or Victor Chust, i.e., to continue with their development by playing away from Real Marid, particularly so as the club has also asked Jorge Mendes to find suitors for him.

However, according to Diario AS, this is not what Asencio is planning, as he is aiming to convince Mourinho that he can be a valuable asset for the team. For this purpose, he has already hired a personal trainer, with whom he is already working tirelessly during this summer break.

The defender is going to spend the entire vacation in his homeland of Canary Islands. But instead of visiting the beaches that make his native land one of the most attractive destinations for tourists from around the world, Raul Asencio would be spending most of his time in the gym, or undertaking cross-country running marathons to get into his best physical shape, before joining the Real Madrid preseason on 13th July.

Hopefully, his efforts would prove to be fruitful, and it would not be surprise if Mourinho gives him a lot of importance next season, as he has a proven record of thriving with players who show a lot of passion and grit, as Asencio does.