Raúl Asencio Has Collapsed. In addition to his status as a defendant in an alleged child pornography distribution crime, his situation on the team is worsening. Asencio is having a hard time.
Meritocracy Doesn't Work with Ancelotti
It is becoming common for him to be greeted with shouts related to his legal issue at all fields. But now it is confirmed that meritocracy doesn't work with Ancelotti. Hierarchy is above everything.
He is the last link in the white hierarchy. He has just arrived, and the veterans don't look favorably on him moving ahead of them. Ancelotti takes this into account to maintain group harmony.
Despite the excellent performance he has shown in the matches he has played, Ancelotti still doesn't trust him. He sees him as still too green for Real Madrid.
In Seville, he preferred the Rüdiger-Alaba tandem, both coming off an injury, and the result was a disaster.
He Is the Best Center-Back at Real Madrid Right Now
And Asencio watched from the bench, aware that he is currently the best center-back at Real Madrid. And also that he will be a starter against Atlético in the Champions League.
But in Seville, it was confirmed that for Ancelotti, he will always be behind Alaba, Rüdiger, and Militão when he returns to the team. Asencio knows that if he has had opportunities so far, it has only been because he had three injured teammates. It was either him or no one.
And as they have started to recover, he has discovered his true position within the team: the bench.
Asencio is having a hard time. And the proof is that he has closed comments on his Instagram account, which has grown to 2.6 million followers. Users took the opportunity to insult him, and he has had enough.
The shouts of "Asencio, die," which he heard in Anoeta, have led him to end comments on his social media accounts.
At 22 years old, he has already played 26 matches with Real Madrid. And he has become indispensable. Real Madrid lost without him against Betis and also in Cornellà, where he had to come on at the end, replacing Rüdiger.
The Fans Are on His Side
He also didn't start in the final of the Super Cup against Barça. He appeared in the 52nd minute when Real Madrid was already losing 5-1, and Barça didn't score any more.
Nor is his marking of Haaland against Manchester City forgotten, which had a lot to do with Real Madrid's qualification.
Asencio hopes that Ancelotti will eventually give in and surrender to his performance, but he knows it will be difficult. The Italian coach owes a lot to Rüdiger and Alaba and won't withhold privileges from them, even if it means leaving Asencio out.
In his favor, the Madrid fans en masse didn't understand his benching in Seville and are calling for him to be among the starting eleven.