Glorioso 1904 exclusive: Benfica tried to sign Real Madrid player | OneFootball

Benfica tried to sign Raúl Asencio from Real Madrid, Glorioso 1904 has learned. The 23-year-old centre-back was one of the names identified by the Eagles’ hierarchy to strengthen the heart of the defence, at a time when the club is preparing major changes to the squad for the new season.

According to what our newspaper has learned, talks between the two parties did take place, but the conditions imposed by Los Blancos made the deal impossible, as the Spanish club wanted to safeguard a buy-back clause, which would allow them to re-sign the defender at the end of the season, a scenario that did not please the Eagles.

The search for a new centre-back has become a priority for the Eagles’ decision-makers, given António Silva’s imminent departure. The Portugal international is very close to joining Bournemouth, forcing Benfica’s SAD to move quickly in the market to find a replacement.

Raúl Asencio fit the profile Benfica were looking for, as the club wants a young defender with room for development and experience at the highest level. Despite the concrete interest, the player will not be joining Marco Silva’s squad.

In the 2025/26 season, wearing the Real Madrid shirt, Raúl Asencio — valued at €20 million — made 34 appearances: 23 in La Liga, eight in the UEFA Champions League, two in the Super Cup and one in the Copa del Rey.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.