Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio faces up to six weeks on the sidelines after the club confirmed he has sustained a muscle injury to the rectus femoris in his right leg. The 23-year-old is expected to miss the remainder of preseason and is unlikely to feature in Real Madrid's opening four or five La Liga matches of the new campaign.

Official Diagnosis

'After tests carried out today, Raul Asencio has been diagnosed with a muscle injury to the rectus femoris in his right leg,' the club confirmed on its official website. Real Madrid stopped short of specifying a return date, stating only that his recovery timeline will depend on individual progress. Spanish media reports, however, place his absence at approximately six weeks, pointing to a return around mid-September 2025.

Impact on Preseason and New Coach Mourinho

The injury deals an early blow to new head coach Jose Mourinho, who had been working with a full defensive squad during preseason preparations. Asencio, who made 34 first-team appearances last season, was expected to compete for a starting berth. His absence now hands rivals an uncontested run of early matches.

Notably, this is the second preseason injury to hit the squad. Young midfielder Thiago Pitarch sustained a training injury earlier this week and is reportedly sidelined for around a month.

Transfer Complications

The timing of the injury adds a layer of complexity to Real Madrid's ongoing transfer activity. Spanish media have speculated that Asencio could feature as part of a potential deal for Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni, although his current fitness status may complicate any such arrangement. Madrid has already moved to reinforce its backline, signing centre-back Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer from Liverpool and bringing in World Cup-winning left back Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.

Netherlands international Denzel Dumfries has been brought in to replace veteran right back Dani Carvajal, whose contract expired at the end of last season.

A Crowded Squad Taking Shape

Beyond defence, Real Madrid's summer has been one of Europe's most active. Bernardo Silva adds creativity in midfield and attack, while Brazilian striker Endrick returns after an impressive loan spell with Lyon in France. Spanish media reports indicate the club is close to completing a deal worth around 125 million euros for RB Leipzig and Cote d'Ivoire winger Yan Diomande, while speculation linking Madrid to Manchester City's Rodri continues to circulate.

The influx of attacking talent has put pressure on the fringe players. Young forward Gonzalo Garcia, despite a promising previous season, is reportedly close to joining Fulham, where he could reunite with former Real Madrid youth coach Alvaro Arbeloa. 18-year-old Argentine winger Franco Mastantuono is more likely to depart on loan after an underwhelming debut campaign in Spain.

What to Watch

With the transfer window still open and Mourinho shaping a new-look squad, Asencio's recovery progress will be closely monitored — both for selection reasons and for its potential influence on any outgoing deal involving the defender. Further departures are expected as the squad is trimmed before the market closes.