The full story, reported by Marca, begins on March 11.
Arbeloa dropped Asencio for the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Manchester City, picking Dean Huijsen alongside Antonio Rüdiger instead. Real Madrid were in defensive crisis — Militão and Alaba both injured — and Asencio had played through a severe cervical contusion against Celta Vigo just three days earlier to help the team out.
He felt that sacrifice deserved a reward.
It did not come. Asencio sat on the bench for the full 90 minutes of the 3-0 win.
Days later, he confronted Arbeloa directly. The tension had already begun.
It worsened when Asencio was named to start against Elche in La Liga. On the morning of the match, he walked into Arbeloa's office accompanied by a club doctor and announced he had minor muscle discomfort. He could not play.
The timing could not have been worse. Rüdiger had been planning to rest ahead of the City second leg at the Etihad. Arbeloa now had to call on him unexpectedly.
Rüdiger is meticulous in his match preparation. Being drafted in at the last minute unsettled him considerably.
Arbeloa was furious.
What followed was a disciplinary standoff. Asencio was fit — he trained every day — but Arbeloa left him out of the Elche squad, the City second leg and the Madrid derby against Atlético. The manager made his position clear: a private apology was not enough.
This was a dressing room matter. The group had been affected. The group needed to hear it.
At the end of one pre-training huddle, Arbeloa asked the assembled players: "Does anyone have anything to say?"
Asencio lowered his head and said nothing.
The absence continued. Social media began linking his non-selection to his nightlife. The rumours needed to stop.
During the international break, Asencio finally stood up and apologised to his teammates — for confronting Arbeloa after the City game, and for the last-minute withdrawal against Elche.
He returned to the squad for Mallorca and Bayern Munich. He did not play in either match.
The saga is over. Arbeloa made his point.