Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio has been discussing his future as rumours grow regarding a potential summer move to Manchester United.
The 26-year-old has spent the majority of his senior career with reigning Spanish and European champions Los Blancos since moving from Mallorca in 2014, but his future under Carlo Ancelotti is now subject to considerable doubt.
Asensio, who was an unused substitute for Madrid in their Champions League final win over Liverpool in Paris last weekend, is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract and rumours suggest he is one of a number of fringe players who could be moved on this summer as they seek to make room for high-profile new signings.
Indeed, Spanish teleivsion programme El Chiringuito claimed this week that agent Jorge Mendes has offered his client to Manchester United, who are starting the process of overhauling their underperforming squad during Erik ten Hag’s first summer in charge.
Asked about his future during a recent interview with Spanish outlet Diario AS, Asensio said: “I have one more year in my contract yet here we are talking about me leaving Real Madrid. This is an important moment for me, I will not deny it.
“I am more mature and not only on the field, this is an important moment and I will have to make important decisions. Me and my family know that I have to keep growing and moving forward. I want to achieve important things in football and they help me do that.”
Asensio went on to admit that he is seeking further big challenges and will decide his future properly after Spain’s Nations League fixtures, having been prevented from doing so by Madrid’s fairytale end to a memorable campaign.
“Considering how this season went and what I experienced during my career, it’s true that I want more, I’m hungry for more and I would retire if it wasn’t like this, but I have many more challenges to achieve,” he said.
“I want to be the best player I can become and that’s why I keep working. I think this season it paid off even though I probably didn’t play many minutes. I want to play more and contribute more to the team.
“It’s true that I didn’t have the time to think and consider many things because of the Champions League final and the celebrations, but when these next two weeks with the national team end, we will talk about it all. This is something that my agent is taking care of.
“When the upcoming games with Spain are over, we will have to think about it. I want to keep growing and I want to achieve more things.”
