Raul Asencio Excited for Mourinho’s Return at Real Madrid
Raul Asencio can feel the change coming at Real Madrid, and he likes what he sees.
The young centre-back took a brief detour from pre-season thoughts to attend the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix at Montmelo, but even in the noise of Formula 1, the conversation quickly turned to football: Jose Mourinho, Bernardo Silva and Spain’s World Cup hopes.
Fired up for Mourinho’s second act
Speaking to Spanish media, Asencio made no attempt to hide his excitement about Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu. For him, this is not just another coaching change. It is a reset of mentality.
“Now, with Mourinho’s new project, I think it’s very exciting and I’m really looking forward to starting,” he said, recalling how the Portuguese coach transformed the club during his first spell.
Asencio grew up watching that Madrid side. He remembers the edge, the confrontational competitiveness, the refusal to back down in any stadium.
“I was little and I saw it, how the team changed, the competitiveness he introduced to the club, the passion and grit … I think those are characteristics that define me as a player.”
That connection matters. A defender who identifies with Mourinho’s footballing DNA, stepping into a dressing room that will again be shaped by the same hard-line standards. For a club chasing back the ground lost to Barcelona in La Liga over the last two seasons, attitude is not a side note. It is the starting point.
Asencio knows what is expected. He also knows who set the bar.
“I’m really excited to start with him at the helm. Yes, of course. He set the record, let’s go for it.”
The message is clear: Mourinho’s history at Madrid is not a weight, it is a target.
Bernardo Silva talk adds to the buzz
The defender also addressed the growing noise around Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese playmaker is widely expected to join Real Madrid, even if nothing is official yet, and Asencio did not bother to downplay the potential impact.
“He’s very, very good, it would be a real boost for the team,” the academy graduate admitted.
Short sentence, big implication. A Champions League-hardened creator, walking into a squad that already believes it is on the verge of a new cycle under Mourinho.
For Asencio, the idea is simple: if Madrid want to reclaim the league and go deep in Europe, they need as many elite players as they can get.
“We’ll welcome anyone that comes with open arms and we’re sure that the project being built is incredible.”
That word – project – keeps coming back. New coach. Possible marquee signing. A core of young players raised in the club’s values. The sense around Valdebebas is that something is being constructed, not improvised.
Watching La Roja from the outside
Away from club football, Asencio will experience the FIFA World Cup 2026 from a different angle. He is not in Luis de la Fuente’s squad, despite previous call-ups, and will have to follow Spain’s campaign as a fan rather than a participant.
It does not dull his enthusiasm.
“From here, as a Spaniard and as an admirer, I support the team, I wish them the best, that they reach the final and can win and celebrate together.”
Spain open against tournament newcomers Cape Verde, a match Asencio expects La Roja to handle comfortably. For him, the national team’s journey is another source of motivation: proof of the level he must consistently reach to turn occasional call-ups into a permanent place.
So while Spain chase glory on the global stage, Asencio will be preparing for his own battle at club level – to convince Mourinho he belongs at the heart of this new Real Madrid.
A demanding coach, a rising defender, a possible superstar arrival in Bernardo Silva. The pieces are moving in Madrid. The only question now is how quickly this project turns from promise into trophies.
