Raul Asencio has been convicted of driving while over the legal alcohol limit in Gran Canaria and given a €14,400 fine and an eight-month driving ban.
The Real Madrid defender reportedly recorded 0.90 milligrams of alcohol per litre of breath. Spain’s general legal limit is 0.25 mg/l.
Asencio is said to have admitted the offence during a fast-track trial. The conviction comes a day before he is due to appear before a judge in connection with a separate sexual video case.
The 23-year-old is expected to attend the hearing alongside three former Real Madrid youth-team players: Ferran Ruiz, Juan Rodriguez and Andres Garcia.
The case concerns two young women, who were aged 16 and 18 at the time, and videos which prosecutors allege were recorded without their consent in 2023. Asencio became involved in the investigation earlier this year.
The latest legal development comes after reports that Real Madrid had offered Asencio to European rivals Liverpool during the summer as the club attempted to end its association with the defender. Asencio, however, had no intention of leaving Real Madrid.
His drink-driving conviction adds to the difficulties surrounding the player and, according to the report, helps explain why Real Madrid were prepared to consider his departure. The timing is also likely to complicate his immediate involvement with the club.
Asencio is unlikely to feature in Real Madrid’s upcoming matches against Real Betis, Inter Milan, Rayo Vallecano or Elche while the consequences of the offence and the separate court proceedings continue.
The road-safety case was dealt with through an expedited legal process after Asencio reportedly accepted the facts. The financial penalty and driving ban were imposed following his conviction.
The hearing connected to the video investigation is scheduled to take place only 24 hours after the drink-driving decision. It will involve Asencio and his three former team-mates from Real Madrid’s youth academy.
The developments have placed further scrutiny on the defender, who has continued to attract controversy during a period in which Real Madrid were reportedly seeking to move him on. Manager Jose Mourinho is not expected to be pleased with the latest incident, with Asencio’s availability for the club’s next fixtures now in doubt.