Marco Asensio is set to leave Real Madrid at the end of the 2022-23 season after his contract expires.
The 27-year-old had been in negotiations with the club since the start of the year over a new contract and had a proposal on the table to extend his deal. However, as Relevo first reported, he made the decision to reject the renewal.
The Real Madrid winger told the staff at the club’s training complex in Valdebebas about his decision, much to the disappointment of the coaches who wanted the Spain international to stay at the club. However, Asensio wanted a bigger role in the team.
Asensio has been at the Santiago Bernabeu for seven years since signing from Mallorca in 2014. He has made 50 appearances for Real Madrid this season, scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists.
He won 17 major trophies in his seven years at the club: three Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles, four Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, three Spanish Super Cups and a Copa del Rey .
Athleticism reported in May that Aston Villa wanted to sign the striker and were ready to offer a lucrative alternative to extending his stay in Spain, with the Premier League club monitoring the situation closely.
A number of other Premier League and Italian clubs are also interested in Asensio.
Real have two games left in the 2022-23 La Liga season and Asensio could make his final appearances for the club against Sevilla on Saturday and against Athletic Club on June 4.
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Why is Asenio about to leave?
Analysis by Mario Cortegana
Money aside, Asensio is set to leave Real Madrid due to his footballing aspirations. The player wants to feel important and in conversations with Carlo Ancelotti, who wanted him to stay, he understood that he wouldn’t get the importance he wanted. Ancelotti appreciates the gesture of Asensio, a maverick.
What does this mean for Real?
Without Asensio and with the departure of Mariano, Real Madrid find themselves with few attackers available: Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde, who wants to return to midfield.
Eden Hazard doesn’t matter to Ancelotti or the club, but wants to terminate his contract, as reported Athleticism and confirmed by the player. Madrid are in talks with Brahim Diaz (who was loaned out to AC Milan) for a renewal and he now has an even better chance of being in the squad next season. The club is also looking into the reinforcement market.
What would Asensio offer a new club?
Any club that signs Asensio will get a player who arrives with career-best numbers, having enjoyed a very successful second half of the season. His shooting is an integral part of his game but he can however be inconsistent and sometimes lack dynamism in his game.
(Photo: Getty Images)
