Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of exciting young winger Marco Asensio from Real Mallorca for an undisclosed fee.
The European champions announced details of the signing on their official website, including a six-year deal for the player and the news the 18-year-old will remain with Mallorca for the remainder of the current campaign.
Asensio has long been expected to complete a move to Los Blancos, but wrangling over various details scuppered a deal going through earlier in the week, per Marca’s Paco Munoz. According to InsideSpanishFootball.com, Barcelona were also very interested in the player.
But Madrid have finally got their man, and it’s easy to see why they were so keen on the youngster.
Carlo Ancelotti also had some kind words to say about the dazzling winger when he was quizzed on a potential deal earlier in the week:
Asensio is considered one of Spain’s brightest young prospects and has shone in bursts for the Segunda Division club since making his debut back in October 2013. But it’s his performances on the domestic front that have really caught the eye; according to Stefan Coerts of Goal.com, the youngster notched three goals and six assists in 14 appearances this season. Spanish football expert Lee Roden gave a succinct summation of Asensio’s qualities for FourFourTwo:
It’s easy to get distracted by the quick feet, but Asensio’s brain is his main weapon. The 19-year-old is a master at putting the breaks on at just the right moment to leave a hapless defender skidding past him on the turf.
Technically excellent, as would be expected of any Real Madrid target, his ability to produce flicks and feints to good effect in some of the sub-standard grounds of the Liga Adelante bodes well for the future.
There have been plenty of young Spanish talent that have swapped their clubs for the might of Real Madrid, and Asensio will have to impress in spades if he’s to earn a place on the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu—never mind oust the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale or James Rodriguez from the side.
Columnist Clark Whitney ponders the problem the youngster may have breaking into the team:
The talent is clearly there, and if Asensio does accrue the requisite game time needed for such a capricious young man, he has the potential to blossom into a star. With that in mind, it’s vital he continues to play regularly and to a high standard not just for the remainder of this season but when he makes his big switch at the end of the campaign.
