Home Football With pressure mounting, Xabi Alonso must make a bold choice—Raul Asencio or Jacobo Ramon—for the final centre-back spot that could define everything.

With pressure mounting, Xabi Alonso must make a bold choice—Raul Asencio or Jacobo Ramon—for the final centre-back spot that could define everything.

Football Sally Rose — May 31, 2025 · 0 Comment

Xabi Alonso is already shaping his Real Madrid squad for the 2025/26 season. One of his early jobs is to decide who will be the fifth centre-back in his system.

Dean Huijsen, Eder Militao, David Alaba, and Antonio Rudiger are all expected to be part of the core group. Alonso will now choose between academy products Raul Asencio and Jacobo Ramon to complete the list.

Asencio is slightly ahead after a solid season with the first team. However, SPORT reports that “his legal situation” has delayed his permanent promotion, even though “he is still one of the main candidates.”

Ramon, meanwhile, shares a history with Alonso. SPORT state: “Alonso already knows Jacobo Ramon from his time in charge of Infantil A,” and that familiarity could influence the choice.