Mourinho gives greenlight for Real Madrid to sell 23-year-old academy graduate – report | OneFootball

Real Madrid have a lot of transfer plans this summer with Jose Mourinho coming in, and it looks like they are not limited to making signings.

Among the many names who could leave Los Blancos this summer is Raul Asencio, the academy graduate.

According to Fabrizio Romano (h/t Madrid Zone), Mourinho has given the green light for Asencio to leave, making the centre-back one of the names to watch in Madrid’s outgoing market.

This is a significant decision because Asencio had only recently been viewed as a player with long-term value at the club. Real Madrid tied him down until 2031 last year.

Real Madrid choose defensive reset

The logic is fairly simple. Mourinho is reshaping the defence, and if Asencio is not central to that idea, the club may prefer to sell while his value is still strong.

Asencio set to move on. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

That does not mean Asencio lacks quality. He has shown personality, physical tools and the ability to handle pressure in difficult moments. Real Madrid are operating at a level where potential alone is not enough, though.

The arrival of Ibrahima Konate, the renewal of Antonio Rudiger and continued links with other centre-backs have all made the defensive picture more crowded.

Managing that group properly means some exits are inevitable.

Sale must protect Real Madrid

The key now is the structure of the deal. Real Madrid should not simply lose a young centre-back without future protection.

No room for Asencio in Mourinho’s plans. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

If Asencio leaves, the club should look for a strong fee, a buy-back clause, a sell-on percentage or some other option that keeps them involved if he develops into a top defender elsewhere.

That approach has worked well with other young players. It gives them room to grow while protecting the club from regretting the decision later.

It might feel a bit harsh to part ways with Asencio, but Real Madrid have never been afraid of making ruthless decisions to help the club move forward.

Mourinho has clearly been given power to shape the squad, and Real Madrid cannot keep every player if the coach does not see a clear role.

It remains to be seen what kind of offers Real Madrid get for the 23-year-old Asencio and what kind of deal they structure to facilitate his sale this summer.