Injured Real Madrid defender targeting return in time for Copa del Rey opener in December | OneFootball

After having been dealing with a fractured tibia since the turn of the year, Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio finally underwent surgery this week to treat the problem.

The La Fabrica graduate was on conservative treatment for nine months, which allowed him to continue playing, but the underlying issue never healed properly.

As such, the decision was finally made for him to go under the knife, with Asencio doing so on Thursday.

While Real Madrid did not specify a recovery timeline for the centre-back, reliable sources suggested that he could be out for a period of four months, meaning he would not play for the club again until 2027.

Asencio trying to return earlier

Now, however, AS reports that Asencio is targeting to return in time for Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey opener in December.

The defender knows that returning in three months or lesser will be difficult, but he will try to make it back for the Copa del Rey opener, which will most likely be played on 16 December.

Asencio hoping to return in December. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Asencio’s injury comes at an inopportune moment as he was in line to make his first appearance of the season after the international break.

Real Madrid will face Villarreal next week without Dean Huijsen (suspended), while Ibrahima Konate returned from France duty with a small injury. Eder Militao has resumed training but still lacks match rhythm.

As such, Asencio would have been a contender to start against the Yellow Submarine, but the surgery has taken away that opportunity. Now, he hopes to recover and return before the end of the year.

Mourinho supports Asencio

Mourinho visited Asencio at the hospital. (Picture credit: Real Madrid official website)

Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho visited Asencio at the hospital on Thursday to offer his support after his tibia operation.

The Portuguese tactician visited the defender to ask how the procedure to repair the stress fracture had gone. It was a show of support during a difficult period in Asencio’s career.

Mourinho previously criticised the defender publicly following his latest off-field incident, although on that occasion he also praised his work in training at Valdebebas.

But, following the injury setback and the surgery, the manager was by his player’s side to show his support and wish him well.