Madrid Daily: Asencio’s surgery, Cestero’s return and Mourinho’s denial

Real Madrid confirmed defender Raúl Asencio underwent successful surgery on Thursday to repair a stress fracture in his right tibia. Performed by Dr. Manuel Leyes, the procedure addresses an issue Asencio managed for months, with reports projecting an absence of two to three months. Meanwhile, José Mourinho dismissed attributed comments concerning Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation with Portugal as fake news, and Castilla midfielder Jorge Cestero is expected to return for Friday's derby.

Elsewhere, Kylian Mbappé displayed his 2026 World Cup awards ahead of the Ballon d'Or ceremony while recovering from a knee injury. Franco Mastantuono reflected on missing the tournament after featuring in Argentina's 4–0 win over Bolivia. Additionally, LaLiga and Puma unveiled a dedicated match ball for this season's Clásico fixtures.