As Marco Asensio goes on market in the summer, words of Zinedine Zidane’s high praise for him have resurfaced. The Frenchman managed Asensio for five different seasons across two stints at Real Madrid. While the Spaniard truly flourished under Zidane, it seems nothing has worked since the three-time Champions League winning-coach has left his role.
Marco Asensio has been in contract talks with the Los Blancos since the beginning of the year and had an offer to extend his agreement on the table. He has chosen to refuse the renewal, as Relevo were the first to disclose. The coaching staff of Real Madrid, who wanted the Spain international to stay at the club, were disappointed when the he informed them of his decision at the club’s training facility in Valdebebas.
Zidane’s huge praise for Marco Asensio remerges as he seeks new club
While Real Madrid have tabled a new offer for Marco Asensio, he is apparently unhappy with his role at the club. Manager Carlo Ancelotti has barely used him as a prolific player since taking over the reigns in 2021, and the winger’s role has been reduced to a mere cameo-maker from a regular starter under Zidane.
Such was Zidane’s faith in Marco Asensio that in 2017, the former Real Mallorca player had said in an interview with COPE that the French coach had informed him his left foot was the finest in the game since Lionel Messi. The similarity, he said, made him happy since Messi was a “piece of a footballer.” Eurosport cited him as saying:
“Zidane told me that since Messi, he had never seen a left foot like mine. I was a little impressed, because Messi is a piece of a footballer.”
However, it has been a fall from the grace for Marco Asensio who is no longer cherished at Santiago Bernabeu. Since moving from Mallorca to Madrid in 2014, Asensio has spent seven years there. His 50 appearances for Real Madrid this season have resulted in 12 goals and 8 assists.
Three Champions Leagues, three La Liga championships, four Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, and one Copa del Rey were among the 17 significant trophies he won during his seven years with the club.
According to a May report from The Athletic, Aston Villa were keeping a close eye on the situation of the 27-year-old and were prepared to offer the attacker a lucrative deal to lure him to the Villa Park. Meanwhile, Asensio is attracting interest from a number of other teams in the Premier League and Italy.
In addition to the money, Marco Asensio plans to leave Real Madrid due to his footballing goals. In private talks with Carlo Ancelotti, who wanted the player to stay, the player learned that he would not have the importance he desired. As a result, despite the club offering him a new contract, Asensio has decided to move elsewhere in search of a regular role.