Real Madrid's Defensive Challenges: Asencio's Return and Future

Real Madrid began their 2026-27 campaign against Espanyol with a defence held together by improvisation and trust. Jose Mourinho went into the opener with only two fit senior centre-backs, starting Ibrahima Konate alongside Dean Huijsen, while Antonio Rudiger waited on the bench. La Fabrica defender Mario Rivas was also named among the substitutes, drafted in because Eder Militao and Raul Asencio were both unavailable.

Asencio’s situation was already complicated before the injury. Told earlier in the summer that he did not feature in Mourinho’s plans for the new season, the centre-back seemed destined to leave. Then came a training-ground setback in July that changed everything. The injury, initially expected to keep him out until September, not only stalled any move but also left his future in limbo.

Now the picture is shifting again.

According to Diario AS, Asencio is back in training with Real Madrid and is expected to rejoin full group sessions later this week. If that schedule holds, he should be in contention for a place in the matchday squad for next weekend’s league clash with Malaga.

For Madrid, the timing could hardly be better. Three games in eight days will test the depth and resilience of Mourinho’s back line. The coach is unlikely to risk running Konate and Rudiger as starters in rapid succession, wary of muscular problems so early in the season. That is where Asencio’s return becomes more than just a medical update; it becomes a strategic tool.

If he is fit enough, the La Fabrica graduate could be back in the squad on Sunday against Malaga, offering Mourinho a much-needed extra option in central defence at a moment when the calendar refuses to ease up.

Yet the same early return that strengthens Madrid on the pitch also reopens an old door off it. With the summer transfer window closing on Monday, Asencio’s availability slightly revives the possibility of a late exit. A fit defender is easier to move than an injured one, and clubs looking for a last-minute reinforcement will be watching.

So far, though, the player has stood firm. Asencio has no intention of entertaining offers and wants to stay at Real Madrid. That stance could come under pressure if the reality of his role becomes impossible to ignore. If Mourinho continues to see him as a peripheral figure rather than a key piece, the defender may be forced to weigh loyalty to the club against the need for minutes.

For now, he returns to the training pitch with a squad that suddenly needs him again. Whether that leads to a second chance at the Bernabeu or a late departure in the final hours of the window is the question hanging over his week.