Asencio avoids criminal conviction as Mourinho criticises Real Madrid defender

Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has been cleared by a Spanish court over allegations that he distributed an explicit video involving a minor, hours after Jose Mourinho criticised the player for an unrelated drink-driving conviction.

A court in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, said on Thursday that “no offence” had been committed by the 23-year-old after the two complainants withdrew their charges. Asencio had previously apologised to the women involved.

The case centred on allegations dating back to 2025, when Asencio and three former Real Madrid academy team-mates were accused of involvement in the recording and unauthorised distribution of sexually explicit videos involving two young women aged 16 and 18.

Asencio was not present when the incidents took place. He was accused instead of sharing the videos with a third party.

The other three players – Ferran Ruiz, Juan Rodriguez and Andres Garcia – were acquitted of distributing intimate footage without consent. However, they each received a one-year suspended prison sentence for “child pornography” and were ordered to attend a sexual “re-education” course.

The drink-driving case involving Asencio also took place in Gran Canaria. He was found to have been driving at more than three times the legal alcohol limit on 16 August.

A court in San Bartolome de Tirajana, a village in Gran Canaria, convicted him and imposed a fine of €14,400. His driving licence was also suspended for eight months.

Mourinho, speaking after the drink-driving conviction, praised Asencio’s attitude in training but said the player had damaged the reputation of Real Madrid.

“He's a model professional. When he was fit, no one trained as hard as him,” Mourinho said.

“Now that he's been injured for a few weeks, he's the first to arrive and the last to leave.

“But a Real Madrid player remains so 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 12 months a year.

“Everything you do outside the pitch represents Real Madrid and could affect the club's prestige.

“I'm not happy. Everyone makes mistakes, but when they pile up, it's not the same.”

Mourinho said Asencio faced disciplinary action from the club in relation to the drink-driving offence, although he also emphasised the player’s professional commitment.

Asencio suffered a hamstring injury in July and has not yet been included in a matchday squad by his new coach. Before that setback, he had featured regularly for Real Madrid during the previous two seasons.

The court ruling removes the criminal case relating to the alleged distribution of the video, but it follows the separate drink-driving conviction and Mourinho’s public expression of concern about the effect of the incidents on Real Madrid’s standing.