The coaching staff at La Liga champions Real Madrid have begun testing the talents of defender Raúl Asencio in a new role at the club’s training ground.
That’s according to Marca, who have confirmed that the youngster is currently being tested as a right-back.
Asencio of course enjoyed nothing short of an explosion onto the first-team picture in Madrid last month.
Amid an injury crisis at the heart of Real’s backline, the 21-year-old was thrust into the spotlight, by way of four successive starts across all competitions.
And Asencio, across this stretch, went on to prove himself more than ready to contribute on the senior stage.
Composed on the ball and rock solid off it, the Spaniard made clear that he is a player not only for the future, but the present, too.
Safe to say, then, that it has no doubt come as a personal blow for Asencio to be dropped back to the bench in each of Real’s last three fixtures.
Aurélien Tchouaméni, since returning to fitness, has been preferred to the Blancos youth product as Antonio Rüdiger’s defensive partner.
All the while, though, Asencio is being tested in a new role at Valdebebas.
That’s according to Marca, who have confirmed that, amid the recent struggles of Lucas Vázquez, Asencio has been afforded the chance to prove his abilities at right-back.
Not only that, but the youngster could even be afforded a start in the position this weekend, in Real’s final outing pre-international break, against Sevilla.
Conor Laird – GSFN
