Barcelona eye sensational swoop for Real Madrid star
FT Desk
- 19 Sept 2022 15:45 BST
- 3 min read
Luis Figo caused a storm when he swapped Barcelona for Real Madrid in 2000. Now, 22 years on, another world class winger looks set to make the same move in the opposite direction…
Marco Asensio may not generate the kind of fervour that saw a pig's head thrown onto the field on his return to Camp Nou in 2002, but he remains a top player, one whom Real fans would rather not see line up for their Clasico rivals after eight glittering seasons at the Barnabeu.
Asensio has won three La Ligas and three Champions Leagues with los Blancos since joining from Real Mallorca in 2014, contributing 50 goals and 24 assists in 239 games along the way, but he is out of contract at the end of the season.
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
And with Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde having pulled ahead of him the Real's pecking order under Carlo Ancelotti, the Spain international looks certain to leave. Arsenal and Juventus have been linked, but a quick trip across Spain now seems more likely.
"Barca take Marco Asensio into account due to his age, playing level and tactical adaptability," report Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo.
'Career ahead of him'
"At 26 years old they see him as a mature player who still has a long career ahead of him. His 12 goals scored last season clearly speak to his quality from the bench for the Spanish and European champions."
Barcelona may be well stocked in the wide areas with Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha, with Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres not far behind, but injuries to Ansu in particular make the need for squad depth more pronounced, and Barca might enjoy taking a player back off Real for nothing.
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Ancelotti doesn't seem likely to block his path, either.
"If he's angry, I agree with him," the Italian said after Asensio had lost his temper after not being subbed on in the recent 4-1 wein over Asensions former side, Mallorca.
"It's normal, it means he wants to play, to feel important. In this period, he has been the player most affected in the squad and I take that into account.
"I'm totally in agreement with his anger. It's fine."
