5 potential Marco Asensio replacements for Real Madrid
By Umid Dey
Marco Asensio’s future is up in the air as the Spaniard has just another year left in his contract and hasn’t yet signed an extension. He recently claimed that he wants to start more matches but considering how he offers almost nothing apart from the occasional goal, there is a very high chance that both Fede Valverde and Rodrygo will be ahead of him in the pecking order next season.
As a result, the former Mallorca star could end up leaving the club. If that happens, then here are 5 players that Real Madrid could use to replace him…
#1 Sadio Mane
This is personally my favourite choice. Mane has another year left in his Liverpool contract and according to many reliable reporters, he is set to leave Anfield. The Senegalese is 30 years of age and still has a couple of years of good football left in him.
He can play in all three attacking positions and that, by itself, makes him a great signing. He brings much depth to the squad but his age also means that he won’t be a hindrance to Rodrygo’s progress at Real Madrid.
#2 Riyad Mahrez
When it comes to left-footed right-wingers, there is perhaps nobody better than Riyad Mahrez in the world right now. The Algerian international is one of the best technical players in the world, which means that he would take LaLiga as a duck takes to water.
With him having just another year left in his current deal, he wouldn’t cost so much. And, like Mane, Mahrez is in his 30s, so he wouldn’t directly impede the progress of Rodrygo. If anything, the former Leicester City superstar could teach the Brazilian a thing or two about cutting in from the right.
#3 and #4 The canteranos
In this space, Real Madrid have two choices: Peter Federico and Sergio Arribas. While the former is the more natural right-winger, the latter is the more matured and refined player. Peter was given a chance by Ancelotti earlier in the season but after that, the Italian perhaps forgot about him.
Meanwhile, Arribas never really got a chance under Ancelotti but he had a great season under Raul with Castilla, scoring 15 goals and making 7 assists from 36 matches in the league. He looks like the most ‘first-team ready’ player in the Castilla and next season could be the one where he is given the chance to show what he is made of.
Finally, both are from the academy, which brings extra pride to Madridismo.
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#5 Serge Gnabry
The former Arsenal starlet looks like the favourite to join the Galacticos at this point in time. Out of all the players listed here, he seems to be the safest investment. He is still young, already established, and could also have a resale value should the club decide to bank on him a couple of years later.
The only downside of this move is the progress of Rodrygo as Gnabry is almost sure to start over the Brazilian. But then again, tough competition gets the best out of winners, so this might be something positive for Rodrygo as well.