Raúl Asencio, One Step Away from the Spanish National Team: Now, the Doors Are Finally Opening for Him

Real Madrid Has Found an Unexpected Talent in Raúl Asencio. Real Madrid Castilla's '35', the absolute leader in the first white reserve team, soon found himself under the tactical command of Carlo Ancelotti. The injuries recorded in the heart of the defense, as well as Nacho Fernández's departure as a free agent, have left the white coaching staff with hardly any resources.

That's why his inclusion in Santiago Bernabéu locker room became necessary. Since the Reggiolo coach lined him up for the first time, Raúl Asencio has shown that he doesn't need any adaptation period to European elite soccer and delivers great performance. That's why many don't understand his repeated substitutions in recent LaLiga matches.

Be that as it may, the Spanish center-back has become one of the positive surprises of the 24/25 season in Real Madrid's context. The executives led by Florentino Pérez have even decided to pursue his renewal to ensure his continuity in the first team... given the excellent performance he is offering alongside other top-level players like Antonio Rüdiger or Aurélien Tchouaméni.

In addition to his spectacular growth as a first-team player, Raúl Asencio has sparked another debate: his possible draft for the Spanish national team. The questions to Luis de la Fuente hadn't yielded a conclusive result, but a last-minute injury could change the coach's mind.

Golden Opportunity

One of the most recurring center-backs in our country in recent years is Daniel Vivian. The Athletic Club de Bilbao footballer began to frequent drafts with Luis Enrique but was definitively consolidated in the heart of the defense with Luis de la Fuente. Now his spot is vacant after the last match played by the Basque discipline.

Athletic visited the Olympic Stadium in Rome to face the giallorossi team in the Europa League. The first leg has left two pieces of bad news. In addition to the defeat against AS Roma, Ernesto Valverde states that "Vivian has a muscle problem and tomorrow we'll know the extent".

The coach of the Basque Country's red-and-white team made it clear that "it will be very difficult to count on him next week". The injury comes at the worst possible time, as there are only seven days left for Luis de la Fuente to announce his next draft, thinking about the March international break. Vivian's absence could definitely open the door to Real Madrid's youth player.

In the Valdebebas offices, they are not ringing the bells yet. Carlo Ancelotti, despite the improvement and adaptability of the Canarian '35', warns that there is still much work to be done. His role as the 'new Nacho', as well as his striking football resemblance to Sergio Ramos, will be forged over time.