Real Madrid News
Marco Asensio at the bottom of the attacking pecking order at Real Madrid – report
With Marco Asensio finding himself in the midst of a contract dispute with Real Madrid, it comes as no surprise why he has played a measly 17 mins of football in all competitions this season.
However, a fresh update suggests that the reasons behind his lack of time on the pitch stem deeper, with the Spanish international simply not being fancied by Carlo Ancelotti.
As per the latest information provided by ABC Deportes (h/t Madrid Zone), Asensio is last on the pecking orders of wingers at Los Blancos, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr. above him.
Despite the ex-Mallorca star once looking destined to reach the top, his stock has plummeted over the years. Injury woes coupled with a lack of consistency have meant the 26-year-old is not held in high regard in the Spanish capital.
While Asensio scored an impressive 10 goals in La Liga last season, the fact that he received a mere 19 starts indicates that his all-round performances have failed to justify his place as a regular fixture in the side.
With Vinicius Jr. staking his claim for being arguably one of the best wideman in the world, Valverde coming into his own on the right wing, Rodrygo’s ability to come up clutch and Hazard’s inherent quality, it is impossible to make a case for why Asensio starts ahead of any of his peers.
In the European champions’ previous encounter against Real Betis as well, Rodrygo ultimately scored the winner, while Valverde came off the bench to set up the Brazilian.
As Asensio fails to make a case for how he provides superior value ahead of his competitors out wide, it is only natural that Ancelotti looks elsewhere for a moment of magic. Inevitably, the Spaniard will likely depart the club on a free transfer next summer.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
