Marco Asensio has been part of some historical moments during his time at Real Madrid. With high hopes for him at the club, things seemed to have taken a negative turn after his ACL injury in 2019. Since his return from a long recovery, Asensio has never been able to reach the heights that not only people were expecting him to reach, but also the heights he set for himself prior to being sidelined. With one year left on his current Real Madrid contract, maybe the time has come for the club to say their goodbyes.
Asensio is currently the club’s third-highest goalscorer in La Liga and it’s safe to say that the Spaniard has a left foot that’s unmatched. With some incredible goals so far this season, the player has shown that he still has something to offer. However, Asensio’s goals shadow his lack of consistency. Playing on the right flank, Real Madrid have struggled with him there, especially against stronger opponents.
Due to that, we have seen him fall down the rankings under Carlo Ancelotti. At one point just a few months ago, Asensio was the undisputed starter while now Federico Valverde and Rodrygo Goes are both ahead of him.
However, the club has not given up on him. With a reported contract renewal on the table, it is down to Asensio to commit to the club or to find a new place to call home this season. Real Madrid do not want to wait and see him leave for free next summer and they are well within their rights to do so. Clubs will still want the player as he does have something to offer.
However, it remains to be seen just how much they will be willing to offer for Asensio’s services. According to reports, AC Milan are interested in his services. He has also decided to change his agent as he’s now under Jorge Mendes’ agency, Gestifute. Still, though, Real Madrid continues to be the club he wants to stay at but it will all depend on how negotiations go this summer.
It’s worth asking though: Why do Real Madrid want to keep him?
Personally, I do not see any good reason as to why he should stay. With all due respect to him and what he has accomplished at the club, those days are in the past. It has already been proven that there are players currently at the club that are better than him. Both those players will continue to be at the Santiago Bernabeu next season. With the expected arrival of Kylian Mbappe as well, it’s hard to see Asensio play at all.
Asensio can fight for a spot but he’ll never win it over a front three that consists of Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema, especially with Rodrygo available. As for trying his luck in the centre of the pitch as Ancelotti wanted early in the season, there is no place for him there either. Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga will all be fighting for that spot. They are also superior players to Asensio in the centre of the pitch.
Regardless of your feelings towards Asensio, it’s difficult to see him get chances in the team. It’s even more difficult to see why the club wants to keep him. He has some incredible moments but those are too inconsistent to really hold on to.
Why not cash in on him this summer? Real Madrid are working through a rebuild and the money that comes in from selling Asensio, as well as the money saved from wages, will help the club move forward. There are players that will be leaving the team in the upcoming summer transfer window but not all the ones on the ‘transfer list’ will find a new home. Gareth Bale, Isco and Marcelo all have ending contracts and will leave. However, it’s not too easy with other players such as Jesus Vallejo, Mariano Diaz, Luka Jovic, Eden Hazard, etc. Therefore, if a club comes knocking for Asensio, you do not say no.
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If Asensio renews his contract with the club, I do not see any way that he doesn’t end up leaving through the back door at some point. Right now, even with the criticism directed towards him, he leaves with some respect and with his head held high. In the future, with less playing time and taking up space on the books, I worry about the ending of his Real Madrid career.
Real Madrid aims to move forward and renewing Marco Asensio’s contract is a move in the opposite direction.