Raul Asencio denies rift with Real Madrid boss Arbeloa as summer exit looms
Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has moved to deny a reported rift with manager Alvaro Arbeloa, following a period of exclusion from the squad. The centre-back has not featured for Los Blancos in a month, with reports in Spain suggesting a training ground disagreement with the manager was the cause.
Speculation of a falling out emerged after Asencio, a regular starter earlier in the season, was dropped for the Champions League tie against Manchester City and subsequently left out of the matchday squad for the following three games. Reports from Spain, cited by sources including Cadena SER, claimed Asencio had reacted poorly to his initial benching, leading to a disagreement with Arbeloa and an alleged refusal to apologise to teammates, resulting in his omission from the squad entirely.
When questioned about his absence by reporters, Asencio offered a terse response, stating, "That, you will have to ask Arbeloa." The clip of the exchange circulated widely on social media. However, the 24-year-old defender later took to his own social media account to clarify his position, stating he has "the utmost respect" for his manager and teammates.
"I don't understand the fuss you all make about things," Asencio wrote. "The manager is the one in charge, he puts players in and takes them out. I have the utmost respect for him and all my teammates." Despite the public denial, the incident has cast significant doubt on Asencio's future at the Santiago Bernabeu.
According to reports, the club is open to offers for the Spanish defender this summer. Real Madrid are expected to be active in the transfer market for a new central defender, and a sale of Asencio could help fund their plans. The club is said to have received interest from the Premier League, which could facilitate a move. Asencio had been a consistent performer for Los Blancos prior to this incident, but this episode appears to have accelerated plans for his potential departure, with the club viewing a sale as a viable opportunity to raise funds for squad reinforcement.
