Raúl Asencio sidelined with persistent fever as Madrid juggle defensive options

Raúl Asencio is still out with fever, and from a rival’s lens, this is a timely opening. Fever knocks rhythm out of even the fittest kids, and center backs rely on timing more than any role. I’ve seen it first hand - the legs feel heavy, brain half a beat late. Madrid’s staff will manage minutes, but I don’t see him touching full intensity soon. Expect reshuffles at the back, more load on partners, and a conservative return timeline if they’re smart. For opponents, it means aerial duels and second balls just got more inviting.

Update comes as Madrid’s academy setup finalizes plans for upcoming fixtures, with medical staff monitoring the player’s temperature and workload at Valdebebas. Asencio had been in the defensive rotation discussion, but continued absence from full training keeps him out of the immediate squad picture. The timing forces adjustments in matchday planning and call-ups across the youth and reserve groups.

🚨 Raúl Asencio is still out with fever. @MelchorRuizCope

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

From a competitor’s point of view, this is a small crack in Madrid’s defensive shield at academy and reserve level that can widen fast. Fevers rarely end when the thermometer says so. There is a second fight - regaining sharpness. Central defenders live on micro-reads, body orientation, and half-steps in the box. Lose 5 percent and you concede a chance. In practical terms, even if the fever clears within 48 hours, he will need 7-10 days of progressive loading to be trustworthy over 90 minutes against a direct, vertical opponent.

The knock-on effects matter more than fans think. Line chemistry breaks, set-piece assignments change, and the first pass out of the back becomes slower. If Madrid bump Marvel or Carrillo into heavier minutes, their risk of fatigue and late-game errors rises. Planning gets messy when a young defender expected to rotate suddenly disappears from the board. Opponents should press earlier, flood the near post, and test the backup pairing with diagonal balls. In short, this absence is not just about one player - it reshapes the unit’s confidence and tempo.

Reaction

Fan chatter splits quickly. A chunk sends the usual get well soon notes, keeping it classy and hoping he’s back on the grass. Another crowd tries to downplay it as a simple fever, tossing quick fixes like aspirin, while a few raise the COVID question, which shows how little patience there is around match availability. The harsher voices call him overrated or not at Madrid level - predictable heat when a youngster misses time in a high-pressure environment.

There’s also the meme economy doing its thing, joking about stares from high-profile coaches and the player being cooked. Typical timeline energy - humor first, context later. As someone who’s been in dressing rooms, I get both sides. Teammates will protect him, but the public pace is brutal. Young defenders don’t get much grace. Miss two sessions and suddenly your spot is up for grabs. The thread reads like a microcosm of modern football talk - sympathy, skepticism, and sharp elbows all at once.

Social reactions

Huijsen and Fran CB duo

V PR (@1real_valverde)

Sure it's fever. Covid is still around, though that is a form of the flu

Pedro Weekes (@pedmar2014)

Hope he recovers quickly and gets back on the pitch soon

Ali Raza (@AliDarwesh94)

Prediction

Short term, I see Madrid covering the gap with a conservative approach: tighter lines, fewer risks in build-up, and more minutes for Marvel or Carrillo. If the fever lingers beyond midweek, expect him to miss at least the next two matchdays, even if he’s back running by the weekend. Most staffs won’t throw a young center back straight into a high-duel match after an illness - the cost of a mistimed jump is a goal, and that sticks to a kid.

Medium term, the coaching group will test different pairings in training and lean on set-piece structure to reduce exposure. If he returns cleanly in 10-14 days, they’ll phase him in with 30-minute blocks, then a start against a lower-pressing opponent. Worst case, a relapse knocks him back another week and he slips down the rotation for a bit. Either way, this creates a window for a teammate to lock the shirt. Football is unforgiving - availability is a skill, and someone will take advantage.

Latest today

• Roy Keane challenges Kobbie Mainoo as questions surface over Bruno Fernandes' long-term fu...
• Endrick to Lyon edges closer as 25-game clause signals a development-first loan
• Report: Joel Glazer’s transfer input at Man United fuels backlash as INEOS tightens footba...
• Mbappé and Bellingham show pure class - consoling Jaime González after the third goal

Conclusion

Strip the noise away and the takeaway is simple. Fever or not, a young defender missing sessions loses sharpness and trust. From where I sit, he won’t be truly match-ready until he stacks proper training days - not just jogging, but full-speed defending and live set-piece reps. Madrid will say the right things, but they’ll protect the unit first. Opponents should smell opportunity in transitions and dead balls.

I’ve played through this cycle. You think you’re fine on day three, then after 20 minutes your legs betray you. The smart route is patience, but football rarely gives it. If Asencio returns too early, he risks a messy cameo and another spin on the sidelines. Give him a clean week, then talk minutes. Until then, the door is open for others and the schedule will test Madrid’s depth at the back.