Real Madrid boss Ancelotti: 'I don't care' if Man Utd transfer target stays or leaves

Stuart Telford

• 16 Feb 2023 14:41 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United lead a host of clubs keeping tabs on Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio, who is out of contract at the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season.

Asensio is set to be become one of the most eligible free agents in the game come June, having failed to agree terms on a fresh contract during a season in which he has only made six La Liga starts.

Primarily a right winger, the left footer has fallen behind Federico Valverde and Rodrygo in that position's pecking order this season and was visibly angry when Ancelotti failed to bring him on against former club Real Mallorca in September.

READ: 'I hope it comes to fruition' - Asensio makes future revelation amid Barcelona talk

Premier League clubs Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool are all reportedly interested in the Spain international, and they may not have to pay a penny for Real for his services.

Ancelotti: 'I don't care'

"He looks good to me, so I don't know if he stays or not," said head coach Carlo Ancelotti ahead of his side's trip to Osasuna on Saturday.

"Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. I don't care much. We have some important challenges this season. The most important thing is that he contributes like last year.

"Let him continue as he is doing now. Then the club makes the most appropriate decision in the end."

READ: Revealed: Real Madrid identify Asensio replacement

Asensio boasts 53 goals and 29 assists from his 262 games for Real since swapping his native Mallorca from the Spanish capital in a €3.5 million deal in the summer of 2015.

He has also won the Champions League three times, and is now valued at €23m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, making him a real snip for United or any other suitor who might sign him next summer.

Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are all also out of contract at the Bernabeu next summer, but each of them are more likely to be offered fresh terms than Asensio.