Today, March 4th, 22-year-old defender Raúl Asencio made his starting lineup debut for Real Madrid in the Champions League playoff match against Atlético Madrid. Until this season, we had never seen him play at such a high level.
Many might think that Raúl is the younger brother of former Real Madrid player Marco Asensio, but that’s not the case! Marco Asensio was born in Palma de Mallorca, while Raúl hails from another Spanish island city, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.
The young defender’s full name is Raúl Asencio del Rosario, while his older namesake is Marco Asensio Willemsen. Marco’s father is of Basque origin and was also a footballer. Marco has an older brother, Igor, who also played football in the lower leagues of Spain.
Raúl Asencio caught the attention of football fans only this season, making it into Real Madrid’s starting lineup after a series of injuries among the team’s defenders. From the very first minutes on the field, he proved that he was ready for the challenge, displaying mature and confident play. Experts have noted his speed, physical strength, and ability to perform well in aerial duels.
Raúl Asencio has been part of Real Madrid’s system since 2017, joining the academy of the royal club from his hometown team, Las Palmas. This season, he has already played in 24 matches and provided 2 assists.
