Raul Asencio, Real Madrid player
Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images
Raul Asencio’s future at Real Madrid remains unresolved, with Jorge Mendes still searching for a club willing to take the defender before the transfer window closes.
According to Jose Felix Diaz, the 23-year-old centre-back remains one of the players most likely to leave Real Madrid this summer.
However, despite the club being open to his departure and Jose Mourinho telling the player to find a new team, there has been no concrete offer on the table so far.
The situation has become even more complicated because of Asencio’s current thigh injury.
His fitness issue has effectively slowed down any immediate transfer movement, leaving both Real Madrid and the player’s representatives waiting for the right opportunity to emerge.
Mourinho’s message puts Asencio’s future in doubt
Asencio’s future has been one of the more uncertain stories surrounding Real Madrid this summer.
Raul Asencio of Real Madrid
Mourinho has asked Asencio to look for a new club. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
The academy graduate has been made aware that his situation could change, with Mourinho speaking directly to the defender and telling him to look for a new club.
Real Madrid are open to selling Asencio, but a departure requires an interested club to make a concrete approach, but so far, that has not happened.
The defender’s thigh injury could be playing a role. Clubs interested in a late move may be reluctant to act immediately while Asencio is unavailable.
That leaves the player in an awkward position.
He is at the top of Real Madrid’s list of potential departures, yet his injury means an exit is difficult to complete quickly.
Unless his situation changes, he could remain at the club simply because the right offer never arrives.
Raul Asencio of Real Madrid
Raul Asencio could leave Real Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the Liverpool links have also failed to provide a solution. Despite reports connecting the Premier League side with a possible move, there is said to be no serious development behind the speculation.
Raul Asencio exit could unlock next transfer move
Asencio’s departure is important for more than just his own future.
Mourinho is keen to add another left-footed centre-back to his Real Madrid squad, but the club currently lack the space to bring in another defender without first reducing the number of players in the existing group.
That is why Asencio’s exit could become a key part of Real Madrid’s transfer plans.
For now, though, Real Madrid’s hands are tied by the squad situation.
The club need movement before another signing can realistically arrive, and Asencio remains one of the clearest candidates to make way.
Manuel Angel of Real Madrid
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Real Madrid have spent much of the summer focusing on signings for the first team but have now pivoted towards sales in Castilla.
The club’s academy is filled with talented players who need regular game time in the upcoming seasons to aid their development.
Los Blancos’ first team is absolutely stacked, and such players will have to move elsewhere to try to build a career for themselves.
Now, according to Arancha Rodriguez, 22-year-old midfielder Manuel Angel appears to be on the verge of leaving the club, with a move to Almeria on the cards.
Almeria move nears completion
The young midfielder is “one step away” from joining the Andalusian side. Only the final details remain before the deal is completed.
For Manuel Angel, the move would offer a clearer route to regular senior football after finding first-team opportunities difficult to come by at Real Madrid.
Manuel Angel and Cesar Palacios of Real Madrid
Manuel Angel (L) set to leave Real Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
The midfielder has long been regarded as one of the more technically gifted players to emerge from La Fabrica.
However, it is almost impossible for him to get a look in considering the absolutely stacked midfield at Jose Mourinho’s disposal.
Regular minutes now the priority
Real Madrid currently have several established options in the middle of the pitch, while younger players such as Thiago Pitarch are also being pushed closer to the first-team structure.
That leaves Manuel Angel in a difficult position if he remains.
At this stage of his career, consistent minutes may be more valuable than staying around Valdebebas without a realistic chance of playing regularly.
Almeria could provide exactly that opportunity.
The door is never closed on the future
The most important thing to remember is that an exit for the 22-year-old this summer does not mean his time at Real Madrid has come to an end.
Manuel Angel of Real Madrid
Almeria-bound. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Los Blancos tend to hold the future rights of talented Castilla players they sell to be able to bring them back should they develop as expected.
It gives Angel further motivation to go away, work on his game, become a regular feature at Almeria and put himself on Real Madrid’s radar.
All young players at Real Madrid have the role model of Nico Paz, who has moved to Como and developed into an incredible talent.
Los Blancos may have bought him back and sold him on this summer but they continue to value the development of such talented youngsters.
It remains to be seen whether Manuel Angel’s Almeria move goes through and how he develops at the second-tier club.