AS reports that with Konate injured and Huijsen suspended, Asensio is likely to start alongside Rüdiger against Villarreal.

The start of this season has been turbulent for Raul Asensio. On one hand, the center-back's performance has been affected by personal issues; on the other, his excellent training attitude has been recognized by Mourinho, as has his recovery from a preseason injury. Asensio's career is a mix of good and bad news, and he is still awaiting his first appearance of the season, an opportunity that may come sooner than expected.

Recent news about Asensio has not focused on the pitch, but on personal matters. Previously, the center-back was arrested by police for driving under the influence, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.90, nearly four times the legal limit (the legal limit for breath alcohol is 0.25 milligrams per liter). A blood alcohol concentration exceeding 0.60 constitutes a traffic safety offense, and Asensio was ultimately fined €14,400 and had his driving license suspended for 8 months.

The entire incident occurred in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, southern Gran Canaria (Asensio's hometown), at 6:30 a.m. on August 16. On that day, his teammates departed for Germany to play their final preseason friendly against Schalke. Asensio had suffered a muscle injury in late July and was unable to play; he was understood to have used the break to return to his home island.

However, the incident has serious consequences, and Real Madrid has launched an internal investigation as it damages the club's reputation. It remains unclear whether the investigation has been completed or what disciplinary action, if any, has been taken by the club.

On another note, previous allegations against him regarding the distribution of explicit videos of a minor have now been resolved. Three other former Real Madrid academy players were also involved in the case. In this matter, Asensio received understanding from both victims and admitted his guilt. The trial has concluded, and Asensio was acquitted. He shared this outcome on social media and also apologized for the drunk driving incident, promising to work hard to turn the situation around.

Mourinho has openly praised Asensio's dedication in training: "When he is healthy, no one trains harder or better than him. After his injury, he is always the first to arrive at training and the last to leave. His recovery work is very dedicated." However, Mourinho also explained that this off-field issue is hard to ignore: "Real Madrid players represent Real Madrid 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year. I am not happy with this. Everyone makes mistakes, but repeated mistakes are a different problem."

The team's poor performance this season, combined with continued reinforcements at center-back (Huijsen was recruited last summer, Konate this summer), caused Asensio to nearly leave last summer. Militão is still injured and will need time to recover. However, all indications suggest that, with everyone fit, Asensio is fifth in Mourinho's center-back pecking order, behind Konate, Rüdiger, Huijsen, and Militão. The situation is uncertain, and Asensio still has a chance to change the manager's mind; perhaps that opportunity will come in the next match against Villarreal at the Bernabéu.

In the upcoming match, Huijsen is suspended due to a red card in the derby. Konate's participation is in doubt; he experienced discomfort after returning from France's national team camp, which in principle should not affect his return to the league, but his availability is not guaranteed. Militão is still recovering, so Mourinho may have to pair Rüdiger with Asensio against the Yellows. Asensio has been named in the squad three times but has not yet played. Mourinho is disappointed with his off-field issues but acknowledges his fighting spirit on the pitch. The center-back needs to work hard to change the Portuguese coach's impression of him, and perhaps the turning point will begin with the match on October 10...

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

Situs web AF kini hadir! Lihat berita lengkap, komentar, detail pertandingan, dan statistik di komputer Anda. Kunjungi: www.allfootballapp.com