Real Madrid has released the squad that will head to Munich for the Champions League quarterfinal second leg. The most surprising news is the absence of central defender Raúl Asensio. The 23-year-old Spaniard played the entire match against Girona last Friday and has no reported injuries, yet head coach Álvaro Arbeloa and his team have opted to keep him in Madrid.
Details: Marca reports that Asensio’s exclusion follows a recent incident involving a confrontation with Arbeloa. This led to Asensio publicly apologizing to the entire team.
Despite the apology, his sudden omission from such a critical match raises questions about his relationship with the coach and potential transfer rumors for the upcoming window.
This decision seems especially strange given Real’s current defensive issues and the significance of the upcoming match at the Allianz Arena.
Here’s the complete squad list for Real Madrid’s match:
Kick-off is set for tomorrow, April 15th, at 21:00 Central European Time.
Reminder: Real Madrid forward Gonzalo García will be leaving the club this summer.