- 17 hours ago
Real Madrid unimpressed by Asensio at World Cup
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 10 Jan 2023 17:45 GMT
- 4 min read
Real Madrid have been left underwhelmed by Marco Asensio’s performances at the World Cup, reducing the chances of him signing a new contract.
However, according to Sport, Madrid have not been won over by Asensio’s showings in Qatar.
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Asensio has played mostly in a false nine role and he did impress together with his teammates in the 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica on marchday one.
Asensio scored Spain’s second goal in this game. He finished clinically from Jordi Alba’s cross to double Spain’s lead and impressed in a fluid attack alongside Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres.
However, after that Asensio has largely disappointed. He missed a huge chance against Germany in the 1-1 draw in matchday two and was completely anonymous as Spain crashed out in the last-16 to Morocco.
Spain lost on penalties after a 0-0 draw in a game where they created very little despite dominating the ball and territory.
Will Asensio sign new Madrid contract?
Madrid hoped to see more from Asensio to truly convince them in handing Asensio a new contract.
Palma-born Asensio joined Real Madrid from Real Mallorca in a deal worth just €3.9 million in December 2014, and blossomed into a top player at the Santiago Bernabeu, winning three Champions Leagues.
But his career in the Spanish capital had looked to be over this season, with each of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde playing ahead of him in the wide attacking areas, and his contract expiring on 30 June next summer.
When Carlo Ancelotti had Asensio watch all 90 minutes of Real's 4-1 win over his native Mallorca in September - having let him warm up - the wide man let rip, throwing away his bib, kicking a cool box and tossing his bottle to the ground.
But in the weeks before the World Cup break, Asensio worked his way back into the Madrid starting XI. He put in one particularly brilliant performance with a goal and man-of-the-match display in the 5-1 Champions League win over Celtic.
This suggested that an excellent World Cup for a Spain team expected to go deep in the competition could convince Madrid to extend his contract.
Now, Asensio’s future remains very much still in limbo.
