Signing Asensio should be a no-brainer for Man Utd and Arsenal
FT Desk
- 27 Aug 2022 13:48 BST
- 3 min read
Marco Asensio is on the way out at Real Madrid. Manchester United and Arsenal would be crazy not to swoop for the Spaniard.
Asensio has been a fine player for los Blancos since joining from Real Mallorca in 2014, racking up 49 goals and 24 assists in 236 games in all competitions and winning three Champions Leagues along the way.
But the 26-year-old winger is out of contract at the Bernabeu in 2023, and Real would rather lose him for a fee now than a free transfer next summer, especially with Vinicius Junior having emerged as a world class proposition in his position.
Asensio has only featured for seven minutes' worth of Real's games this season, and the writing is on the wall, with the Spanish giants reportedly ready to accept a fee of €30 million.
Liverpool are being linked with Marco Asensio by Sport, as, and Mundo Deportivo.
The year is also 2019 and he's scoring goals like this:pic.twitter.com/iRBQ3GMLFr— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) June 20, 2022
Good for Man Utd
United are in the market for a wide man, with Ajax wing wizard Antony top of their shopping list. But Ajax are holding out for €100m for the 22-year-old Brazilian, having this week knocked back a bit of €90m.
Asensio would come in at a relative snip, but with more pedigree than Antony. He may have four years on the Ajax man, but Asensio remains in his prime with the best of his career arguably still ahead of him.
The Old Trafford dressing room would also have a familiar feel. Cristiano Ronaldo may not be there for long, but in Casemiro and Raphael Varane, they have two more players who enjoyed the aforementioned Champions League triumphs with him.
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Good for Arsenal
Arsenal's need for extra strength on the flanks may not be as obvious as United's, with Gabriel Martinelli having hit the ground running for the Premier League leaders this season and Bukayo Saka generally regarded as one of the best wide players in the division.
But Asensio would still provide some welcome competition for places, and there is space for it with Nicolas Pepe having been allowed to return to France on loan with Nice. His arrival would also stop United getting him - which in itself is a positive for Arsenal.
Roma and Jose Mourinho have been linked with a move for Asensio. United and Arsenal would be missing a trick if they let him go to Italy.
