Real Madrid News
Real Madrid winger’s decision to stay at club was financially motivated
Ahead of the summer transfer window of 2022, the forward line seemed to be the area of interest at Real Madrid. The club were linked with some of world football’s biggest names like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
However, Los Blancos made no new additions to their forward arsenal in the past three months. The team head into the new season with a similar core in attack, especially given that players like Mariano Diaz and Marco Asensio did not leave the club.
According to reports from Tomas Gonzalez (h/t MadridXtra), Asensio’s decision to stay at Real Madrid was not entirely motivated by the possibility of regaining the manager’s trust.
The Spaniard is looking to run down his contract to become a free agent next summer to collect a large signing bonus from his next team.
Yet, Ancelotti is not concerned by the motive of the forward’s decision. When asked about Asensio’s situation yesterday, the manager said,
“He (Asensio) is happy that he’s staying. He has been very good last season and will get minutes.”
The Spaniard has seen very little involvement in the team dynamics so far this season. He did not even come off the bench in Los Blancos’ games against Eintracht Frankfurt, Espanyol and Almeria.
The only time Asensio graced the pitch this season was against against Celta Vigo, when he came on with less than ten minutes of regulation time to spare.
Last season, Asensio scored ten goals for the club across 31 games in the league and was one of Ancelotti’s most trusted options to fill the third place in attack. Now, he must compete with Rodrygo, Eden Hazard, and Federico Valverde to get minutes under his belt.
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.
