On the verge of delivering an incredible first season at Real Madrid, Raul Asensio continues to impress. While concerns grow over the toll of frequent matches on the young 22-year-old player, Pedro Luis Ripoll, a well-known sports doctor, has made some major revelations.
A reserve team player at the start of the season, Raul Asensio made a spectacular rise to Real Madrid’s first team late last year. Taking advantage of Éder Militão’s injury—a cruciate ligament rupture that has sidelined him for the rest of the season—the young 22-year-old defender made his professional debut in November. In less than five minutes on the pitch, he made his mark by delivering an assist for Jude Bellingham’s first goal of the season. Far from stopping there, he quickly won over fans with his highly disciplined defensive play.
Asensio’s remarkable performances
Despite his impressive displays, Raul Asensio was initially benched by Carlo Ancelotti but remained mentally strong and regained his place in Real Madrid’s starting eleven without forcing his way in. Once again benefiting from a disappointing performance by David Alaba alongside Rüdiger, the young defender restored solidity and reliability to the defence. Now, he is set to play the big matches for the Madrid giants. This Thursday, Marca analysed the strengths of the Spanish player.
With the immense pressure in the first team, where matches come every three days, Asensio seems completely unfazed. From 11 matches in 71 days with Castilla between August and November—the time of his promotion to the first team—he has now played 19 matches in 65 days with Madrid (one match every 3.4 days) between January and March. At Valdebebas, all the players and coaching staff share the same sentiment: “It’s incredible to think that he has only been with the first team for a few months.”
Dr Ripoll’s insights
Since November, Raul Asensio has played 28 out of 30 Real Madrid matches across all competitions (93%), including 18 as a starter, consistently delivering top-level performances. Studying the case of the dazzling young defender, Dr Pedro Luis Ripoll, director of the Clinica Ripoll y De Prado, a FIFA Centre of Excellence, had nothing but praise for him. Among the many players he monitors, the sports doctor considers Asensio a rare case.
“He has an exceptional physique to perform at the highest level. He has started playing a match every three days as if he had been doing it all his life, without his body feeling the strain,” said Dr Ripoll before adding:
“This proves that he is very well-balanced physically and possesses many attributes that make his physique harmonious. Muscularly, he is neither overloaded nor too bulky. He absorbs the physical impact of matches well and recovers quickly and efficiently, which also enables him to withstand sustained efforts—something essential in teams like Real Madrid, where packed schedules offer no respite for months.”
“He is a true concentration machine”
Beyond his physical attributes, what Dr Ripoll also highlights in Raul Asensio, particularly, is his mental strength. While many young players struggle to establish themselves at the highest level, the 22-year-old Madrid defender remains impervious to pressure. “Mentally, this is what impresses the most. He is a true concentration machine and has an exceptional mindset, with very few lapses in focus,” the specialist notes.
“What stands out most is the natural way in which he has absorbed the pressure of playing—not just at Real Madrid but also in a key position of highly individual responsibility. Especially in a role that had been plagued by weaknesses and insecurities at Madrid, and at such a crucial stage of the season. We have seen players collapse physically due to stress and tension,” Ripoll adds. There is no doubt—Raul Asensio is a godsend for Real Madrid, the Madridistas, and football lovers alike.
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