Asencio apologized to the locker room, specifically to Rudiger, and even trained on his days off. The Spanish center-back has earned another chance at Real Madrid.
The Asencio case has taken a positive turn in Valdebebas. What began as a silent "disappearance" has led to a step forward by the center-back, ending with a double apology to the locker room... and has since regained credit with his recent gestures.
The Spanish center-back spent time pushing his body to the point of injury, playing with a crack in his tibia that warranted stopping. Even so, he stepped up when the team needed him most, compromising his physique at a delicate moment on defense. However, the turning point came in the first leg against City.
Arbeloa bet on Huijsen in the starting lineup, and something inside Asencio began to break. A day later, after being benched at the Bernabeu, he went to the coach's office, accompanied by a club doctor, to certify some mild muscle discomfort. He was ruled out of the match against Elche... and the conflict was already on the table.
Far from festering, the center-back reacted. After the break, the team returned to Valdebebas, and Asencio stepped forward. First, with a public apology to the locker room. Then, with a more personal gesture toward Rudiger, who had to play a match in which he was supposed to rest to maintain his schedule.
A significant apology to a key teammate in his growth since his arrival to the first team, one of the first to reach out and help him settle, both tactically and competitively.
In parallel, the sporting situation did not help either. After his last match against Celta, he missed subsequent call-ups and benched appearances after his apology (Mallorca and Bayern). On top of that, a virus kept him out for nearly a week, during which he lost up to 6 kilos after playing 90 minutes against Girona.
He missed two more matches (the second leg against Bayern and Alaves) before partially returning to the group. Not being fit to play or even travel, he asked to be with the team in Seville. Arbeloa agreed. He did not get minutes, but the gesture was highly valued within the locker room and by the coaching staff.
And it did not stop there. After the draw against Betis, with two days off for the squad, Asencio decided to continue working in Valdebebas. He trained on Saturday and Sunday to speed up his recovery and regain his feel for the game. Another decision was well-received at Real Madrid's training ground.
Thus, despite the recent noise, his departure is far from defined. There are five matches and a long summer ahead, with the World Cup on the horizon. Asencio is calm, with the intention of staying and competing again for a spot in Madrid, which, due to its defensive situation, may still need him... unless a total revolution arrives.
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