Davide Ancelotti Points to Real Madrid's Most In-Form Player, Pintus Surprised

One of the Positive Surprises of the Current Season Is Raúl Asencio. The footballer from La Fábrica was, until a few months ago, the leader of Real Madrid Castilla's defense. His talent and quality had reached the coaching staff led by Carlo Ancelotti, but the Reggiolo coach did not need his football services.

Until Injuries Began to Accumulate in the Heart of the White Defense. The first casualty was Joan Martínez, another youth player who was destined to take a spot in the first merengue team. That cruciate ligament tear was followed by the same injury for Éder Militão: the "3" verdeamarelo has already gone through that ailment twice, once in each knee.

The absence of Antonio Rüdiger, albeit for just two weeks, and the final stages of David Alaba's recovery left the transalpine coach with practically no options. Given the white bosses' refusal to sign a center-back during the winter market, Carlo Ancelotti had to improvise in a "more difficult still" with Tchouaméni and Asencio.

The "35" from the Canary Islands has shown that he doesn't need an adaptation period to European elite soccer. Not only in terms of quality, a well-proven instance after intense matches in the Champions League. Another aspect that impresses about the young center-back is his physical endurance and work capacity.

On an Upward Trend

The striking defensive strength that characterizes Raúl Asencio is just one of the symptoms of a privileged physique that has surprised the club's head of physical preparation. Antonio Pintus closely follows his evolution and adjustment to a much higher level of demand than he was used to by suggestion of Davide Ancelotti. Real Madrid's assistant coach has noticed this change as a result of recent matches.

The analyses of Raúl Asencio make it clear that the merengue center-back possesses "a super-gifted physique to perform at the highest level". Doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll points out that Asencio "has started playing a match every three days as if he had been doing it all his life", a clear demonstration of his physical prowess. Carlo Ancelotti, on more than one occasion, has made it clear that there isn't much to instruct Raúl Asencio on.

The only area of work that the white coaching staff would have assumed is the adjustment of his defensive strength. Although it is constantly cheered and celebrated by Santiago Bernabéu stands, it has caused certain problems in moments like the Copa del Rey round of 16. That untimely penalty committed by the "35" from the Canary Islands led to an overtime that Endrick and Arda Güler solved with their excellent connection on the field.

The progress Raúl Asencio has shown since his arrival in the first team has been enough for Real Madrid to consider him part of the squad coached by Carlo Ancelotti. So much so that the executives led by Florentino Pérez would already be working on a renewal to extend a contract that ends, at least for now, in mid-2026.