Mourinho rebukes Real Madrid defender after DUI and legal woes
While finalising preparations for the LaLiga clash with Betis, José Mourinho addressed a serious off‑field issue, rebuking 23‑year‑old defender Raúl Asencio after the player was caught driving his Porsche under the influence and subsequently fined 14 400 euros.
DUI incident and sanction
On 16 August, Asencio was stopped in a routine traffic check on Gran Canaria. The breath test recorded 0.90 mg/l of alcohol, almost four times the legal limit of 0.25 mg/l, and above the 0.60 mg/l threshold that can constitute a crime in Spain.
He received a fine of 14 400 euros and an eight‑month driving‑license suspension, though he caused no accident and was not deemed to have driven dangerously.
Other legal case and club response
Separately, the defender is linked to a separate prosecution concerning unauthorised sexual videos involving two young women aged 16 and 18, recorded in 2023. The victims later withdrew their accusations after receiving undisclosed compensation, leading to Asencio’s acquittal.
Three former academy players – Ferrán Ruiz, Juan Rodríguez and Andrés García – were convicted of child‑pornography distribution and sentenced to one year each, though their sentences were suspended.
Mourinho condemns Asencio’s drink‑driving while club weighs sanctions
In a press conference, Mourinho quoted the club’s ethos, saying, "Um jogador do Real Madrid é um jogador do Real Madrid 24 horas por dia, 7 dias por semana e 12 meses por ano. Tudo o que você faz fora do futebol ainda é Real Madrid. Isso prejudica o prestígio do clube. Não estou feliz, todos cometem erros, mas acumulá‑los é diferente."
He also praised Asencio’s training ethic, noting, "Un joueur du Real Madrid le reste 24 heures sur 24, sept jours sur sept, douze mois par an. When he is fit, nobody trains harder than him. He is the first to arrive and the last to leave."
The Portuguese coach added, "En la prensa española se ha hablado mucho, pero un jugador del Real Madrid debe representar al club en todo momento."
Mourinho warns Asencio that repeated off‑field errors damage Real Madrid’s image
Real Madrid travel to Betis Sevilla on Friday at 21:00 for the fourth round of LaLiga, with Mourinho insisting the disciplinary process will continue while Asencio remains sidelined through injury.
His firm stance underscores the club’s determination to protect its image, reminding that wearing the Merengues shirt carries responsibilities both on and off the pitch.