Mourinho’s Real Madrid shakeup could ripple through sports investment markets

José Mourinho has told defender Raúl Asencio he won’t be part of Real Madrid’s plans next season. It’s the kind of cold, decisive move that made Mourinho famous, and it’s already raising questions about what comes next for one of the most valuable sports franchises on earth.

The conversation reportedly happened around July 22, 2026, just weeks after Asencio had publicly expressed excitement about Mourinho’s return to the club in June. In English: the young defender rolled out the welcome mat, and Mourinho used it to show him the door.

A squad overhaul with financial implications

Reports sourced from Radioestadio Noche suggest Mourinho is looking to sell Asencio specifically to finance transfers that would strengthen the squad’s competitiveness heading into the next La Liga campaign.

The Asencio factor

The twist in this story is that Asencio apparently isn’t going quietly. Reports indicate the defender remains determined to fight for his place within the squad, setting up a preseason standoff that could drag on through the summer transfer window.

Mourinho has done this before. At Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Manchester United, he identified players who didn’t fit his system and marginalized them until departures became inevitable.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.