Real Madrid defender Raúl Asensio has issued a public apology just hours after being acquitted in a case involving the disclosure of secrets related to a video recording, while taking full responsibility for a separate drink-driving incident.
Asensio’s acquittal came after the two affected victims confirmed in court that they had forgiven the four players involved, dismissing the sole charge against the Real Madrid defender concerning the showing of the video to a third party.
In an official statement, the player thanked Real Madrid for their unwavering support and trust throughout the proceedings, requesting that his acquittal receive the same level of media coverage as the initial allegations while expressing his desire to put the matter behind him.
Addressing the drink-driving offense, Asensio stated: “I deeply regret what happened and take full responsibility for my actions,” promising to learn from the experience and avoid repeating such mistakes.
The defender was detained on August 16 in Gran Canaria after testing positive in two breathalyzer tests with readings of 0.90 mg/l and 0.88 mg/l—well above the legal limit of 0.25 mg/l—before pleading guilty in a expedited trial.
Asensio was ordered to pay a €14,400 fine and had his driver’s license suspended for eight months. The incident drew sharp criticism from manager José Mourinho, who commented: “I am not happy… Everyone makes mistakes, but accumulating them is a different matter.”
Mourinho emphasized that a Real Madrid player represents the club 24/7, though he praised Asensio’s professionalism at the training ground. Meanwhile, the club has opened an internal disciplinary procedure to investigate the incident, leaving the defender’s future under close observation as he recovers from injury.
