More Trouble for Asencio as His Future Remains Uncertain

Raúl Asencio is trying to avoid another operation on his tibia. A spell of several weeks on the sidelines would be a major blow for the Real Madrid defender.

Raúl Asencio’s injury problems are far from over. The Real Madrid defender has recovered from the quadriceps injury that kept him out recently, but he is now experiencing discomfort in his tibia, on the same leg, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

The problem is not new. Asencio has been dealing with pain in the area since the end of last season. At the time, the centre-back continued playing despite the discomfort because Real Madrid were short of defensive options and needed him available during a demanding period.

When the possibility of stopping was suggested to him, Asencio reportedly made his position very clear: “No way.” Determined to help the team, he chose to continue playing despite the physical issues.

Following the end of the season, the defender underwent treatment aimed at removing abnormal cells around the scar tissue on his tibia. The main objective was to prevent the existing crack from further weakening the bone and potentially developing into a more serious fracture.

Real Madrid’s medical staff hoped that the summer break and a prolonged period of rest would finally resolve the issue. Unfortunately, that does not appear to have happened.

Several months into his recovery process, Asencio is still feeling pain in the affected area. The defender has therefore started a new course of treatment in an attempt to avoid another surgical procedure.

He has already completed several sessions at Valdebebas designed to reduce the discomfort and allow him to gradually return to normal training. This treatment is effectively being viewed as the final attempt to solve the problem without surgery.

If the pain does not disappear and the treatment fails to produce the desired results, Asencio will have little choice but to undergo another operation.

🚨 JUST IN: Raúl Asencio has RECOVERED from his injury, but his shin problem has RETURNED.

He’s started treatment at Valdebebas.

If it fails, he’ll undergo surgery and will be out for 6-8 weeks. @marca pic.twitter.com/ccSznBtSaK

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 24, 2026

Such a scenario would represent a significant setback for both the player and Real Madrid. According to the current estimates, surgery could keep the defender out of action for approximately six to eight weeks.

The timing could hardly be worse for Asencio.

His position in the Real Madrid squad had already become uncertain during the summer transfer window. The Spanish giants reportedly explored the possibility of finding him a new club, although the academy graduate eventually remained in Madrid.

Competition for places has also increased considerably.

With the arrival of Ibrahima Konaté, José Mourinho now has even more options in central defence, making the battle for minutes particularly intense. Asencio therefore needs to be available and fully fit if he wants to convince the Portuguese coach that he deserves an important role this season.

Being sidelined for nearly two months would make that challenge considerably more difficult. While his teammates would have the opportunity to establish themselves and gain Mourinho’s trust, Asencio would once again be forced to focus on rehabilitation.

For now, the defender and Real Madrid remain hopeful that the latest treatment will work. But if the pain persists, surgery could become unavoidable, dealing Asencio another frustrating setback at a crucial moment in his Real Madrid career.