Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio faces last chance to dodge surgery

Real Madrid centre-back Raul Asencio, 23, is attempting a fresh rehabilitation course at the club’s Valdebebas training complex to prevent an operation on his tibia, which has resurfaced after a recent aggravation. Earlier this season he returned from a quadriceps injury, but the same leg now presents a lingering tibial concern that could lead to surgery with a projected six-to-eight-week downtime. The problem emerged toward the end of the previous season when Madrid’s defensive ranks were thin, and Asencio chose to keep playing despite the risk.

A minimally invasive procedure was previously performed to address abnormal tissue and a poorly healed callus, yet the condition never fully resolved. Post-season plans called for natural healing, but progress has stalled, possibly compounded by the earlier quadriceps issue that altered his training load. The current treatment aims to reduce pressure on the affected area, but the margin for error is narrow, and failure could force the club and player into surgery.