Raúl Asencio sidelined by Real Madrid after dispute with manager Arbeloa
Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio has been excluded from the squad for several weeks following a disciplinary breach and a confrontation with manager Álvaro Arbeloa, according to reports from Spanish newspaper Marca. The 26-year-old has not featured for the club since March 6, with the situation stemming from his reaction to being left out of the starting lineup for a Champions League round of 16 match against Manchester City.
Marca reports that the dispute began when Asencio, who had played through a neck contusion against Celta Vigo just days prior, was not selected to start in the crucial European tie. The defender allegedly reacted poorly to the decision, and the situation escalated when he later refused to apologise to the coaching staff and his teammates. The report further claims that Asencio cited an injury ahead of a match against Elche at short notice, a move that forced Arbeloa to start Antonio Rüdiger, who had prepared not to play.
As a result, Asencio was removed from first-team training and matchday squads entirely, with the club's stance being that he would only return after making amends with the group. Following the recent international break, the Spanish defender is said to have finally offered the required apologies and has now been reintegrated into training with the main squad. However, he remains an unused substitute and has not returned to the pitch.
The internal conflict comes at a pivotal point in Real Madrid's season as they compete for the La Liga title and advance in the Champions League. Asencio, primarily a backup centre-back, has made 18 appearances across all competitions this season, providing depth behind starters like Rüdiger and Éder Militão. His absence has further tested the squad's defensive resources, though the team's performances have not significantly suffered.
Manager Álvaro Arbeloa, who took over the first team earlier this season, has emphasised discipline and collective responsibility. This incident represents one of his first public managerial challenges in handling a senior squad member. For Asencio, the prolonged exclusion threatens to derail his progress at the club where he has been since his youth academy days, casting doubt on his long-term future under the current regime. His reintegration is a first step, but regaining competitive minutes, potentially even in a daunting upcoming fixture against Bayern Munich, will be the true test of the resolution.
