Carlo Ancelotti has made his position clear regarding youth player Raúl Asencio: the Real Madrid coach neither trusts him nor plans to include him in his lineup. This was evident during the press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey clash against Celta at the Bernabéu.
Asencio Overlooked Despite His Popularity
While Asencio has won the admiration of Madrid fans, Ancelotti remains unmoved. He prefers to experiment with players like Aurélien Tchouaméni as makeshift center-backs rather than give Asencio a chance, leaving the young player with little hope of breaking into the first team.
Ancelotti Defends Tchouaméni at Center-Back
Despite Tchouaméni’s mistakes, including those that led to goals against Barça, Ancelotti continues to back him in an unfamiliar center-back role. He stated during the press conference:
“I’m still convinced that Tchouaméni has done well as a center-back. The data supports this, especially since it’s not his ideal position. Once our defensive emergencies are resolved and Alaba returns, Tchouaméni will go back to his natural position as a pivot.”
With reinforcements expected in defense and Alaba’s return on the horizon, it seems unlikely that Asencio will get the opportunity to prove himself, making his departure from the club a strong possibility.
Asencio’s Bleak Future Under Ancelotti: A Talent Without a Role
Carlo Ancelotti has left no doubt about his lack of confidence in youth player Raúl Asencio. Despite Asencio being a natural center-back, the Real Madrid coach continues to favor Aurélien Tchouaméni—who is not a center-back—for the position, further sidelining the young defender.
Ancelotti Sees Asencio as a Full-Back
Ancelotti has publicly stated his preference for transitioning Asencio into a full-back role, saying:
“Asencio is a center-back. Training him to play as a right-back takes time because he isn’t used to it. He joined for the first time two months ago, has played good matches, and shown he can play. But he’s only been with us for two months.”
However, two months at Real Madrid seem insufficient for a youth player to adapt, even as other clubs give similar players international opportunities in the same timeframe.
Two Players Playing Out of Position
Ancelotti’s insistence on playing players out of position has created a puzzling situation. He deploys Tchouaméni as a center-back and pushes Asencio into a full-back role, a position neither is naturally suited for.
To make matters worse for Asencio, Real Madrid is on the brink of signing a new full-back as a replacement for Carvajal, with additional reinforcements expected in the summer, including Alexander-Arnold and Alphonso Davies. Meanwhile, the return of Alaba, Militão, and Rüdiger will crowd the center-back position further.
Ancelotti Admits Commitment Was Lacking
When addressing Real Madrid’s recent struggles, particularly in the Super Cup loss to Barcelona, Ancelotti pointed to a lack of collective commitment:
“We lacked commitment from everyone together. The most important thing is to put individual commitment together. That’s what happened to us during the match against Barcelona.”
A Likely Departure for Asencio
With little trust from Ancelotti and no clear path to a stable role, Asencio is reportedly considering his options. Real Madrid may look to sell him while retaining 50% of his rights, as has been done with other youth players in the past.
For now, Asencio’s talent remains overshadowed by a system that doesn’t seem to accommodate him, leaving his future at Real Madrid increasingly uncertain.
