Jose Mourinho wasted no time delivering the hammer blow, telling Real Madrid center-back Raul Asencio that he is absolutely not part of his plans moving forward. The Portuguese coach, back at the helm, has been on the field with the available players since July 13th, the same day the Merengues kicked off their preseason. After just a few days, and with World Cup stars Arda Guler and Federico Valverde now back in the mix, with others soon to follow, Mourinho has already assessed his roster and started making big calls about who stays and who goes.
Mourinho’s Swift Verdicts
Look, when Mourinho walks in, you know decisions are coming fast and furious. It has only been about two weeks, and he has already greenlit the loan departure of young forward Franco Mastantuono. But the bigger shocker has to be Raul Asencio. According to reports from SPORT, Asencio, a Spanish center-back, simply is not in Mourinho’s vision. The manager already sat down with the player and laid it out. Real Madrid is ready to offload Asencio, whether it is a loan deal or a permanent sale. The writing is on the wall, plain and simple. No messing around.
The €8 Million Problem That Nobody’s Solving
Here is where it gets messy for Real Madrid. Asencio’s market value has plummeted from a respectable €40 million down to a mere €20 million over the last year. Yeah, you read that right, a 50% drop! While clubs like Galatasaray and Lazio have been sniffing around, there is a monstrous hurdle: his wages. Last summer, Asencio saw a massive pay bump, with his total package hitting a staggering €8 million annually, including salary and bonuses. And he is under contract until 2031! Think about that, folks. That is a full five years Real Madrid would be on the hook for a player their new coach wants absolutely nothing to do with. That is a massive financial commitment for someone just taking up roster space and eating salary. Asencio was apparently keen to impress Mourinho, trying to make his mark, but with five other players battling for just two center-back spots, and the club not even ruling out *another* signing for the position, seriously, another one, he has to know minutes are going to be impossible to find. What is a guy to do? Ultimately, with that contract locked down, the decision rests entirely with him. Does he stick around and collect a huge paycheck from the sidelines, content with his bank account, or does he show some pride and try to find playing time elsewhere, even if it means a pay cut to join a club like Galatasaray or Lazio? It is a real dilemma, not just for him, but for Real Madrid’s entire transfer strategy.
This is going to be a huge situation to watch in the coming days. Will Asencio dig in his heels, or will Real Madrid find a way to move him despite those hefty wages? Whatever happens, it is clear Mourinho means business right out of the gate.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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