Real Madrid News
Soon-to-be-free Real Madrid ace still hopeful of earning a new contract
Marco Asensio required less than 20 minutes on the field to make a tangible difference in Real Madrid’s 3-1 demolition of Espanyol on Saturday. Coming on in the 72nd minute, he worked a smart finish to beat Fernando Pacheco in extra time to seal the three points.
According to reports from AS, the Spaniard has not given up hope of proving himself despite knowing that Rodrygo Goes and Federico Valverde are also fighting for the right-wing position. He knows that he has enough time to turn his situation around and looks to make the most of the minutes given to him.
The source also adds that Real Madrid will soon start negotiating and renewing the deals of players whose contracts run out in June. While Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are high on the priority list, Asensio is also a player who the club do not oppose keeping.
The winger wishes to be a starter under Carlo Ancelotti but is currently behind both Valverde and Rodrygo in the pecking order. Though the manager sees Asensio as a valuable option off the bench, the player does not want to renew for a bench role.
However, he wishes to continue at the Santiago Bernabeu and believes that he has time to turn around his situation in the coming months.
The 27-year-old has only started seven of Real Madrid’s 25 league games so far and has a total of 19 league appearances this season. In that duration, he has scored five goals and provided three assists in addition to a key pass every ninety minutes.
The coming months will be crucial in deciding Asensio’s loyalties next season, and a large part of it depends on the player’s performances and importance. In the event that he decides to leave, Barcelona are said to be well-placed to snap him up on a free transfer.
As Real Madrid look to restart the campaign following the end of the international break, all focus will be on the upcoming El Clasico in Copa del Rey on April 5.
However, before they take on their arch-rivals for a fourth time this year, Real Madrid must see off the challenge from Real Valladolid in La Liga on Sunday.
Given Barcelona’s 12-point advantage at the top of the table, La Liga appears to be a lost cause for Real Madrid right now. But that is no excuse for Carlo Ancelotti’s men to appear complacent, as they look to push for a late title charge.
However, heading into this contest, three Real Madrid players proceed with caution as they are running the risk of missing out on the next league game against Villarreal due to yellow cards.
The three players in question are Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, and Dani Ceballos. All three of these players have picked up four yellow cards in La Liga this term. Therefore, picking up another booking against Valladolid will rule them out in the next game.
Camavinga, in particular, has been a vital part of the Real Madrid squad since the turn of the year, impressing onlookers with his performances and versatility.
Carvajal, too, is a critical option at right-back and his experience could go a long way in helping Real Madrid end the league campaign on a positive note. Not to mention, the club lack the services of a reliable alternative, which has led to links with Reece James this coming summer.
Ceballos, on the other hand, has been one of the emerging stars this year. The midfielder’s performances have been excellent lately, and he would not want to lose any momentum by picking up a suspension ahead of the important Villarreal game next week.
