With less than two weeks left in the transfer window, where exactly is Asensio heading to? Although he has spent six years in Madrid, it doesn’t look like he has much chance to play anymore.
The new season has started, and Madrid have already seen the Maloji striker disappear in the opening game against Almería, nor was he given an opportunity to play in the UEFA Super Cup against Eintracht. Asensio will be out of contract next summer and his current deal sees him earn around £150,000 a week.
It is likely that the club have decided to put Asensio on the bench as a means of forcing him to leave, but the simple fact is that he has not proven that he should be in a better place ahead of Rodrigo Goes or Fede Valverde for Real Madrid. Asensio scored in double figures last season for the first time since 2018 but eventually lost his place at the end of the season.
There are speculations that Real Madrid want to force Asensio out and recoup some money for him before he is available on a free next summer. Roma have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old.
On the other hand, the Catalan media outlet claim that the star demanded a deal worth £100-115,000-a-week for an extension but he is even willing to lower the wage even more to move to the Reds. It has also been reported that the La Liga champions have grown tired of Asensio’s attitude, and have lowered their asking price from £43 million down to £26 million.
The Spaniard joined Madrid in 2014 from Mallorca and has made 235 appearances for the club, scoring 49 goals during that time. He dazzled everyone for the first three seasons, but his progress came to a screeching halt after a horrific 2019 preseason spell. In a friendly against Arsenal, he tore his left ACL and lateral meniscus in his left knee – injuries that have kept him out for almost the entire season. With Madrid looking for a proven goalscorer to deputize for Karim Benzema, Asensio may have a chance to prove himself in the Spanish capital.
Asensio is also looking to secure a spot for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November and is looking for regular game time to ensure he can play there. It’s time for him to make a decision.
