Raul Asencio Excited for Mourinho's Return at Real Madrid

Raul Asencio can feel it. Even from the noise of the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix at Montmelo, his mind keeps drifting back to Madrid, to a training ground he has not yet shared with Jose Mourinho but already imagines clearly.

The Real Madrid defender, speaking to Spanish media at the circuit, could barely hide his anticipation at the club’s new era under the returning Portuguese coach – or the prospect of sharing a dressing room with Bernardo Silva.

Mourinho’s return lights a fire

Asencio grew up watching Mourinho’s first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu. Those years left a mark.

“I was little and I saw it, how the team changed, the competitiveness he introduced to the club, the passion and grit … I think those are characteristics that define me as a player,” he said, drawing a straight line between the coach’s identity and his own.

Now he is no longer the kid in the stands. He is the centre-back waiting to be moulded.

“Now, with Mourinho’s new project, I think it’s very exciting and I’m really looking forward to starting,” Asencio admitted, the words coming with the energy of a player who senses an opportunity.

Real Madrid have watched Barcelona dominate La Liga for two straight seasons. That does not sit comfortably at Valdebebas, and Asencio knows exactly who they have turned to in search of a response.

“I’m really excited to start with him at the helm. Yes, of course. He set the record, let’s go for it.”

The reference is clear: Mourinho’s record-breaking title campaign still looms large. For a defender like Asencio, the idea of playing in a team built on intensity and edge is more than appealing; it’s a challenge he sounds eager to embrace.

Bernardo Silva talk adds to the buzz

The conversation at Montmelo didn’t stay on tactics and mentality for long. Transfer talk never does in Madrid.

Reports in Spain have suggested that Bernardo Silva is expected to join Real Madrid, and Asencio did nothing to hide his admiration for the Manchester City playmaker.

“He’s very, very good, it would be a real boost for the team,” the academy graduate said, offering a simple verdict that carried plenty of weight.

He stopped short of confirming anything, but his tone reflected the mood around the club: this is a squad that expects to keep adding world-class talent.

“We’ll welcome anyone that comes with open arms and we’re sure that the project being built is incredible.”

A new coach with a history of shaking up dressing rooms. A potential marquee signing who has just helped define an era in England. For players like Asencio, the message is clear – perform, or get left behind.

Watching La Roja from afar

While his club future looks increasingly central to his story, Asencio’s international role remains more distant.

He is not part of Spain’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite previous call-ups under Luis de la Fuente. That absence has not dulled his affection for La Roja.

“From here, as a Spaniard and as an admirer, I support the team, I wish them the best, that they reach the final and can win and celebrate together,” he said.

Spain open their campaign against World Cup debutants Cape Verde, a match Asencio expects them to handle comfortably. He will watch like millions of others – a fan, not a protagonist – while knowing that strong seasons at Real Madrid under Mourinho have a way of changing international hierarchies.

For now, though, his focus is clear. A new project, a demanding coach, the possibility of sharing a pitch with Bernardo Silva. The engines roared around him in Montmelo, but it is in Madrid where Asencio’s career is about to accelerate.