Club World Cup disaster casts shadow over Real Madrid youngster’s future | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign ended in embarrassment, as the Spanish giants were dismantled 0-4 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final.

Among the many disappointing performances, Raul Asencio’s display stood out for all the wrong reasons, raising serious questions about his future under Xabi Alonso.

Once a reliable option under Carlo Ancelotti, Asencio had a tournament to forget. From the very start, he struggled to cope with the intensity and pressure.

In the opening game against Al Hilal, his clumsy foul inside the box gifted the opposition a penalty, leading to a late equaliser. Xabi Alonso was quick to react, substituting him at half-time.

Things got worse in the next match against Pachuca, as he was sent off just seven minutes into the game, forcing Madrid to play a man down early on.

Luckily, the team’s overall quality saw them through with a win. But the most damaging moment came in the semi-final against PSG.

A poor first touch from Asencio in front of his own goal handed Fabian Ruiz a golden chance, and the midfielder didn’t miss, opening the floodgates to Madrid’s 0-4 collapse.

Real Madrid reconsider centre-back options

Raul Asencio’s performances were questionable. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Alonso now faces a real headache in central defence. With six players who can fill those roles, namely, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Asencio, Dean Huijsen, and even Aurelien Tchouameni, it seems there is depth, but not enough reliability.

Alaba remains a mystery after long injury spells, Rudiger’s limitations were exposed against PSG, and Asencio’s recent form has cast major doubt over his dependability.

As a result, Real Madrid are now considering bringing in a new centre-back. One of the names gaining traction is Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate.

His strength, pace, and experience at the top level make him a strong candidate to reinforce Madrid’s back line, especially if Alonso sticks with a three-man defence that relies on wide build-up play and solid coverage at the back.

If such a move materialises, it could spell the end of Asencio’s time in the first team. While once seen as a reliable option, his recent displays have placed him at the bottom of the pecking order.