Marco Asensio has pulled a complete U-turn over his future at Real Madrid, amid reported transfer interest from Liverpool and Newcastle United in the Spanish forward this summer.
That’s according to AS, who claim Asensio has now opted to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu into the final year of his contract. It had been expected more than not that the 26-year-old would leave Los Blancos this off-season. But he can still see some future at the Galacticos.
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Asensio had even sacked his long-term agent Horacio Gaggioli in favour of Jorge Mendes in anticipation of needing a move. His aim was to find more regular games next season in the build-up to the World Cup, having started 23 of his 42 games in all competitions last term.
But Kylian Mbappe electing to stay at Paris Saint-Germain over a transfer to La Liga, plus a vote of confidence from Carlo Ancelotti and a host of stars leaving Real Madrid already so far this summer, has encouraged Asensio to stay in Madrid for at least the next 12 months.
Asensio believes departures for Isco, Gareth Bale and Luka Jovic will strengthen his right to a greater role. Ancelotti has also insisted he considers the 29-cap La Roja maestro to be an important part of his plans after the forward recorded 12 goals and two assists last season.
Marco Asensio pulls U-turn for Real Madrid stay amid Newcastle, Liverpool interest
Circumstances at Real Madrid are such that Asensio feels comfortable to reject all transfer interest from clubs like reported suitors Liverpool and Newcastle. He is also ready to play into the final year of his contract, knowing a strong season will see them offer fresh terms.
If not, leaving Los Blancos as a free agent will allow Asensio to select a new challenge next year. But his only intention right now is to embark on his best season since moving to the Santiago Bernabeu from Mallorca in 2016 – dealing Eddie Howe and Jurgen Klopp blows.
Prior reports by AS had noted Howe was interested in making Asensio the new leading star at Newcastle, should he agree to leave Real Madrid. Which TuttoMercatoWEB claimed he was desperate to do with AC Milan interested, and could move for €25-30m (£21-25.5m).
Klopp, likewise, has been driving interest from Liverpool as the German personally wants to sign Asensio this year, per Sport. But a complete U-turn from the three-time Champions League winner Vicente del Bosque considers ‘world-class’ may put an end to their pursuits.
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