How big of a role will Marco Asensio have with Real Madrid this season?
By Ben Sundock
Marco Asensio has quickly become one of the best players at Real Madrid in just two incredible seasons with the club. With Cristiano Ronaldo now at Juventus, will the pride of Mallorca have a bigger role and maybe be a starter under new boss Julen Lopetegui?
The forward who is known for only scoring the most ridiculous goals in clutch situations might have been one of the few people around Los Blancos who was happy to see CR7 head to Italy. As his understudy, Marco thrived coming off the bench late in games to score incredible goals in both league and Champions League play.
Now, after working closely with the new man in charge of the defending Champions League winners, Asensio could be a regular starter on the left wing. Asensio has worked with Lopetegui on international duty.
So, an open spot on the forward line and a manager who knows exactly what the 22-year-old is capable of is a great combination that could see the number 20 make that step to the world-class level.
Marco Asensio is an incredibly versatile player who can start in several positions on the field and did under Zinedine Zidane during the 2017/2018 campaign. The youngster played in six different positions last season and showed the Madridistas how vital he is to this team’s success.
Although he only started as a left winger six times, he had some of his best numbers at the position scoring two goals and providing two assists working alongside Karim Benzema.
The only person that can hold Marco back is his countrymen and his good friend, Isco. The 26-year-old ‘bandy-legged Bandit’ started as a left winger in just three matches but tended to drift to that side of the formation in order to help build up the attack.
Even as I say this, I think Asensio would be the better option on that left wing. Isco is fantastic at free-roaming and providing help where it’s needed when building up the attack.
The younger Spaniard has better pace and is lethal when he gets the ball on his feet in the final third. Plus, with opponents having to keep tabs on Gareth Bale on the right side and the Big Benz in the middle, defensive lines will have a tough decision to make as to who they should mark tightly.
The great thing about a young guy like Marco Asensio is when he gets regular playing time and starts the majority of matches, he gets on a roll and can be unstoppable. Just look at what he did against Las Palmas at home or with the Spanish U-21 team at the Euro competition last summer.
So will Asensio be a regular in this squad you may be wondering? I think there is a great chance that he is. How can you not love the intensity and pace this guy brings to the team each time he’s on the pitch.
Zizou clearly saw the potential and wanted to use Marco as much as possible, he simply wasn’t at a level where he could beat out one of the greatest to ever play the game. In just a few short years, we could be saying the same of this talented player.
Next: Real Madrid transfer rumor: Neymar Jr. confirms he will stay in Paris
We as Madridstas can thank Spanish tennis legend, Rafael Nadal, for talking to President Florentino Perez and coaxing him to sign this guy at a shockingly low price. The deal was so good in fact, it now seems like highway robbery.
Keep a close eye on Marco Asensio as he could very well have the best season of his young career with Cristiano Ronaldo now no longer around.