Mourinho informs Real Madrid defender he is not part of his plans | OneFootball

It has been nearly two weeks since Jose Mourinho returned to train the available players at Real Madrid. The Merengues began their preseason on 13th July, and over the last few days, have also been joined by two players who participated in the World Cup, i.e., Arda Guler and Federico Valverde. The rest of the World Cup players are expected to return to the club in the coming few days.

Meanwhile, the new coach has also had time enough to assess the players that have been training under him so far, and he has already made his decisions about the futures of some of these players. For instance, he has given the green light for the departure of the young forward Franco Mastantuono on loan.

Another player about whom he has made his decision is the center-back Raul Asencio. According to SPORT, the Spaniard is not a part of the Portuguese coach’s plans, and the manager has already communicated this to the player.

The Merengues are ready to part ways with Asencio either or loan or through a permanent sale. The defender’s market value has decreased from €40 million to €20 million over the last year, and clubs like Galatasaray and Lazio have been linked with him recently.

However, a significant barrier to his departure could be his high wages. Last summer, they significantly increased his wages, which went up to €8 million including his salary and bonuses.

Raul Asencio has a contract with Real Madrid till 2031, and thus, he will ultimately decide whether he leaves or stays. Previously, he was reported to be keen to impress Jose Mourinho in the preseason, but he also understands that minutes in the center-back position will be very hard to come by next season, with the five players competing for two spots, while the signing of another player for this position cannot yet be ruled out.