Raul Asencio’s rapid recovery puts December return within reach for Real Madrid

Raul Asencio has reduced his expected recovery time by six weeks and hopes to return to the Real Madrid squad for the UEFA Champions League meeting with Arsenal on 9 December.

The defender underwent surgery early last month to repair a fracture in his leg. His initial recovery was expected to take four months, meaning he would not have been available until late January or early February 2027.

However, Asencio has worked through double training sessions at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground in an effort to accelerate his rehabilitation. According to AS, that programme has enabled him to bring his return forward by a month and a half.

The 23-year-old has already progressed further than initially planned. In recent days he has begun wearing football boots, training on grass and working with the ball. The original schedule had placed those steps in December.

Asencio has marked 16 December as another important date. Real Madrid are expected to play their first knockout match of this season’s Copa del Rey that evening. Under the competition’s draw rules, and because it will be the first knockout tie for a club involved in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid are likely to face a side from the Primera Federacion or Segunda Federacion.

That match could provide a manageable opportunity for Asencio to make his first appearance since his injury and regain the feeling of playing competitive football. He also hopes to be involved against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League on 9 December, followed by Real Madrid’s La Liga fixture with Osasuna on 13 December.

Osasuna are the same opponents Asencio faced when he made his first appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu two years ago.

The player is aiming to rejoin first-team training after the next international break. His determination follows regular conversations with manager Jose Mourinho at Valdebebas, where Asencio has made clear his intention to commit himself fully to Real Madrid and protect his reputation and value at the club.

Mourinho has been impressed by Asencio’s character and professionalism. That was evident on the night of Real Madrid’s historic El Clasico victory, when the injured defender travelled with his team-mates to show his solidarity with the squad.

Asencio watched the match from the stands at Spotify Camp Nou, directly behind the bench occupied by Mourinho and his coaching staff. He was subjected to a number of insults from supporters at the Barcelona stadium but responded by smiling and celebrating the victory with his team-mates.

In an interview with AS several weeks ago, Asencio acknowledged that he had made mistakes and said he would now dedicate himself to defending the Real Madrid shirt with everything he had. His efforts to return ahead of schedule reflect that resolve.