Carlo Ancelotti confirms Real Madrid star is being tested in new position

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that he and his staff are currently testing defender Raúl Asencio out in a new role.

Asencio, of course, enjoyed nothing short of an explosion onto the first-team picture in Madrid last month.

Amid an injury crisis at the heart of Real’s backline, the 21-year-old was thrust into the spotlight, by way of four successive starts across all competitions.

And Asencio, across this stretch, went on to prove himself more than ready to contribute on the senior stage.

Composed on the ball and rock solid off it, the Spaniard made clear that he is a player not only for the future, but the present, too.

Safe to say, then, that it has no doubt come as a personal blow for Asencio to be dropped back to the bench in each of Real’s last four fixtures.

Aurélien Tchouaméni, since returning to fitness, has been preferred to the Blancos youth product as Antonio Rüdiger’s defensive partner.

Speaking to the media this weekend, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of Asencio’s recent drop off in minutes was put to boss Carlo Ancelotti.

And, in his response, Real’s headmaster went on to reveal that the Spaniaed is in fact currently being trained up in a new role, at full-back:

“We’re trying him out [at right-back]. He has the characteristics, although from a more defensive than offensive profile.”

Conor Laird – GSFN