Mourinho visit to injured Raul Asencio highlights human side at Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho visited Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio in hospital to support him after surgery on a stress fracture in his right shin.

The gesture came after Mourinho had previously been highly critical of the player, and sent a message to the Real Madrid dressing room about the importance of putting the human element first.

According to AS, fairness between players is one of the principles Mourinho tries to apply in his management. Even when players receive more criticism than praise from the Portuguese manager, he believes their personal circumstances must take priority.

Mourinho’s treatment of Asencio has provided an example of that approach. He publicly reprimanded the defender over his most recent off-field incident, but also praised his work in training at Valdebebas at the time. Following the operation, Mourinho wanted to be present and check on his player.

The procedure was carried out to treat a stress fracture in Asencio’s right shin. His recovery is expected to keep him out for at least three months, although he will attempt to return in time for Real Madrid’s opening Copa del Rey match on 16 December.

Asencio has been in the spotlight more often for matters unrelated to football since the summer. He has not played a single minute for Real Madrid this season.

On 3 September, the defender returned to the centre of a legal case after the two victims forgave him in relation to a sexually explicit video he had published. The judge subsequently acquitted him.

A separate case had a different outcome. At the same time, it was established that Asencio had committed a road-safety offence in August after being found to have driven under the influence of alcohol.

Mourinho responded firmly during the news conference before Real Madrid’s trip to La Cartuja, saying: “Everyone makes mistakes, but when mistakes accumulate… it becomes different. A Real Madrid player is a player for the club 24 hours a day. What you do off the pitch can damage your reputation and the club’s reputation. I am not happy.”

However, in keeping with his emphasis on fairness, Mourinho also recognised Asencio’s daily work with the squad.

“Inside Valdebebas, he is a real professional,” Mourinho said. “When he was fit, there was nobody who trained more than him or better than him. Now, while he is injured, he is the first to arrive and the last to leave. He has extraordinary dedication.”

Those issues have now become part of the past, at least for the moment. After the ordeal of undergoing surgery, an especially difficult experience for any footballer, Asencio received the support of his manager.

It was a gesture certain to be noticed by the Real Madrid dressing room and remembered by the players.