The season has taken an unexpected turn for Real Madrid on several matters, and among the many talking points is the emergence of Raul Asencio as a defensive reference point.
To put things in perspective, Asencio has gone from being surrounded by doubts to becoming the most reliable option in Madrid’s back line, a transformation few would have predicted only months ago.
What makes his rise more striking is that it has happened under extreme circumstances.
Real Madrid’s defence has been stretched to the limit this season, largely due to serious injuries to key players such as Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger.
With options running thin, Asencio has not just filled a gap, he has taken responsibility at a time when the team needed calm and consistency.
Rather than shrinking under pressure, he has put his body on the line through injury to make himself available for the team.
This current version of Asencio feels worlds apart from the player seen back in June.
His campaign began on a difficult note during the Club World Cup, where costly errors quickly put him under scrutiny.
A penalty conceded against Al Hilal was followed by an even harsher moment when he was sent off just seven minutes into the next match against Pachuca.
Instead of letting those moments define him, Asencio has responded with resilience.
Over the past few weeks, he has played through pain, competing with a fracture in his left tibia while also wearing a protective mask after suffering a heavy blow to the nose.
Despite these physical setbacks, rotation has not been an option he has entertained.
Now, a place in the Spanish national football team is a genuine ambition, especially with the World Cup approaching.
The competition is intense, and the presence of Dean Huijsen in the national setup highlights the fine margins involved.
Even so, Asencio continues to push forward. After surviving early-season criticism, overcoming injury, and stepping up when Real Madrid needed him most, he is no longer seen as a temporary solution.