Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio is set to stand trial in the Canary Islands over allegations of disseminating child pornography.
The 21-year-old is accused of sharing images and a video involving a minor, though he is not believed to have been responsible for recording the content.
Allegations and Investigation
The case involves three former Real Madrid reserve players—Ferran Ruiz (21), Juan Rodriguez (22), and Andres Garcia (21)—who were arrested in September 2023 for allegedly taking and recording the explicit material. Reports claim that the players misled the victims by assuring them that the footage had been deleted.
While Raul Asencio was initially called to testify as a witness, further investigations reportedly linked him to the distribution of the material. His request to be exempted from trial was denied by the court, and if convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.
Real Madrid’s Response
Following the arrests, Real Madrid released a statement acknowledging the situation: “Real Madrid wishes to announce that it has learned that a Castilla player and three Real Madrid C players have made statements to the Civil Guard in relation to a complaint about the alleged broadcasting of a private video via WhatsApp. When the club has detailed knowledge of the facts, we will take the appropriate measures.”
The High Court of Justice of Gran Canaria confirmed in November that four footballers linked to the club were under investigation for disclosure of secrets and dissemination of pornography.
On-Field Impact
Despite the legal battle, Raul Asencio remains in contention to feature in Real Madrid’s upcoming clash against Mancity, as the club deals with a defensive injury crisis, with Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, and David Alaba all unavailable.
As the trial date approaches, pressure is mounting on Real Madrid to address the situation and take decisive action regarding Raul Asencio’s status at the club.