Succeeding at Real Madrid is no easy task. The Whites have always been characterized by having big stars and a lot of competition for a starting position in the team, especially if you are young and come from the youth academy. This season, complicated by the number of injuries, the youth academy has had to come to the rescue on several occasions.
Asencio, a special case
This season the star of the youth academy has been Raúl Asencio. Asencio is the man of the moment at Real Madrid and they are very close to closing the deal to renew the central defender’s contract. His current contract runs until June 30, 2026, but there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that in a few weeks they will make the deal official to extend the central defender’s contract for many years to come.
Asencio appeared at a time of total crisis and has managed to earn a place not only in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting eleven but also in the national team. The level of play that Asencio has shown at Real Madrid has been stratospheric. Since becoming a starter, following the injury of Militao, the promising defender has shown good maturity, good solidity, and a good sense of football in every game he has played. He has played 39 games this season, accumulating 2,790 minutes and has provided two assists.
In November 2024, Ancelotti promoted Raúl Asencio to the first team, but only as an emergency option. On November 2, he was playing with Real Madrid Castilla and on the 9th he was called up to play against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu. Thirty minutes into the game, he had to go on. He is now the starting center back ahead of Alaba.
Looking for a place in the cup final
Real Madrid struck first and took a step towards the Copa del Rey final in their duel against Real Sociedad. The Whites won by the smallest of margins (0-1) at Anoeta, thanks to a goal from Brazilian Endrick in the 19th minute, in a match in which Carlo Ancelotti’s side showed great skill. Now it all comes down to the Santiago Bernabéu.
To reach the semifinals, Real Madrid had a close tie against Leganés. The Real Madrid of epic moments did it again. They were 2-0 up but a penalty put Leganés back in the game and they equalized in the second half. The Whites had chances of all kinds but it wasn’t until the last gasp that reserve team player Gonzalo González appeared to give them a place in the Copa semifinals.
Gonzalo with suitors in La Liga
The killer Real Madrid Castilla does not have a leading role in the first team and his departure could be imminent this summer. The current scorer of Castilla is not going to continue in the Madridista subsidiary, unless Raúl González’s team achieves the long-awaited promotion to LaLiga Hypermotion.
His performance throughout the season has been unbeatable, even going so far as to be the ‘culprit’ of the Whites fighting for a place in the Copa del Rey final this Tuesday with his goal at Butarque.”I’m super happy, nervous. I don’t even know what to think. It’s been a dream since I was in the youth team. And to score that goal, with such importance… More than happy. I would say so. With last year’s Liga debut, but it surpasses it. For the goal, for the importance. For what I have worked for this year. Very happy,” said the ‘9’ merengue.
Gonzalo has several First Division clubs following in his footsteps, including Real Sociedad, Getafe and Leganés, three teams that have shown interest in him for next season.