Why this season could be huge for Marco Asensio
By Matt Addison
After the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from the Bernabeu, Marco Asensio could be set for the biggest season of his career.
Real Madrid have been led by the talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo ever since he signed from Manchester United for a then world-record fee of around £80 million. This summer, the Portuguese’s switch to Serie A has changed all that.
Ronaldo scored 451 goals in nine years at the Bernabeu, including 44 hat-tricks, and won the Champions League four times, becoming one of the best players of all time in the process.
Averaging just over 50 goals per season, filling the void will be no easy task for new boss Julen Lopetegui, even if, at the age of 33, Madrid thought it best to cash in on Ronaldo now.
Eden Hazard has been mooted as one potential arrival to fill that void with a bid of £122 million reportedly imminent, but arguably one of the best options in attempting to replace Ronaldo is someone already among the Real Madrid ranks.
Marco Asensio, the Mallorcan-born winger, could benefit from the Portuguese’s departure more than most, and at the age of 22, he needs a big season if he’s to propel himself to the very top at one of the best clubs in the world.
A star in the making
Earlier in the transfer window, Asensio was linked with a £158 million move to Liverpool which was rubbished at the time, but the mooted price-tag indicates how valuable Real see their young talent.
Rather than cashing in on him, it could be they choose to field him more frequently. The 22-year-old, who has 15 international caps for Spain, featured mainly off the bench last season for his club, but has an impressive career record of 32 goals and 34 assists to date.
If his impressive cameos, particularly in the Champions League, where he made 12 appearances last season, are anything to go by, he could be capable of making the next step up for Madrid next season.
If Asensio can progress once more, he has all the tools necessary to help negate the Ronaldo void, and would save the club a fortune in the process. Blessed with pace, agility and skill, he could be ready to become a household name.
Even if Hazard was to arrive, and there’s no guarantee Chelsea will sanction a sale, Asensio would still be crucial. Replacing Ronaldo is unlikely to be an easy task, and more than one player is likely to need to step up in his absence.
During the last couple of years, Ronaldo has been more of a traditional number 9 for Madrid, while Asensio is an out-and-out wide player, but he could be important in filling the gap.
With Karim Benzema through the middle, and Asensio and Gareth Bale as wide options, Real Madrid could revert back to their traditional 4-3-3 formation, rather than a 4-4-2 diamond they employed at times under Zinedine Zidane.
Next: 5 replacements for Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid
Neymar switch unlikely
Ever since Brazilian superstar Neymar made the move to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record €202 million, speculation has been rife that a move to Madrid is on the cards, but it might be a deal more likely to happen next summer than this one.
Neymar is likely to want to spend more than just the one season in France, where he has unfinished business with PSG, having crashed out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage.
Without Neymar gate-crashing his chance, an incredible opportunity could arise for Asensio to make himself a regular at the Bernabeu.
He’s a world-class player in the making, and this season is likely to offer an opportunity to prove that.
If Asensio can take his chance at Real Madrid, now is the time to do it; stall for another season and another Galactico could arrive to block his path.