Mourinho criticises Raul Asencio as Real Madrid investigation continues

Jose Mourinho has criticised Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio after the player was sentenced for driving under the influence of alcohol at almost four times the legal limit.

Mourinho said Asencio’s conduct away from the club was linked to his responsibilities as a Real Madrid player, although he also praised the defender’s commitment and professionalism at the club’s Valdebebas training ground.

Speaking at a news conference before Friday’s La Liga match against Real Betis, Mourinho acknowledged that mistakes could happen but warned that repeated incidents were more serious.

“Everyone makes mistakes, but when mistakes accumulate, that is a different matter,” he said.

Mourinho, whose comments were highlighted by Spanish newspaper AS, said players remained representatives of Real Madrid even when they were not at the club.

“A Real Madrid player remains a Real Madrid player 24 hours a day. What you do away from the club can damage your reputation and the reputation of the club, and I am not happy,” he added.

The manager nevertheless made clear that his criticism of the incident did not extend to Asencio’s day-to-day work at Valdebebas. He said the player had shown an exceptional level of dedication, including while recovering from injury.

“Inside Valdebebas, he is a real professional. When he was fit, there was nobody who trained more than him or better than him. And now, despite his injury, he is the first to arrive and the last to leave. He has enormous dedication,” Mourinho said.

Real Madrid has opened an internal investigation into the matter. Mourinho said the club’s process would have to be completed before any further sporting decision was made.

“The club has opened an investigation file and, as a coach, while that file remains open, I treat him as a Real Madrid player. He will remain one over the coming weeks,” he said.

The comments came after a ruling was issued against Asencio in connection with the drink-driving case. The level recorded was reported to have been close to four times the permitted legal limit.

Mourinho’s remarks suggest that the club is separating its internal disciplinary process from decisions concerning Asencio’s involvement on the pitch. For now, the coach said he would continue to regard the defender as part of the Real Madrid squad while the investigation remained active.

The manager’s assessment therefore contained both a public reprimand and an endorsement of Asencio’s behaviour as a football professional. Mourinho expressed clear dissatisfaction with the accumulation of mistakes, but also emphasised that the player’s conduct in training had continued to meet the standards expected at Valdebebas.

The case can be discussed in greater depth in the Kooora forums.