Marco Asensio of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring a goal in the La Liga game against Getafe at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain, May 13, 2023. /CFP
Marco Asensio will leave Real Madrid after his contract ends this summer and join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), The Athletic reported on Thursday.
According to Football Espana, Asensio will sign a four-year contract with PSG and make 10 million euros (about $10.8 million) per year, including salary and bonuses, The Athletic revealed. He is expected to make his final appearance for Real against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
Asensio was acquired by Real from Mallorca in November 2014 but didn't make his Real debut in La Liga until the 2016-17 season. He has scored 61 goals and 32 assists in 285 games for Real since then, winning three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey championship and three UEFA Champions League titles.
Real wanted to keep Asensio and had been negotiating an extension with him for months. However, the 27-year-old wants to play a bigger role, which he knows he won't get under Carlo Ancelotti after conversations with the manager.
Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring a goal in the La Liga game against Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain, May 24, 2023. /CFP
PSG, which will part ways with Lionel Messi after this season, can use Asensio's shooting ability and the complete skills of playing multiple positions across the frontline. He may not be a dynamic player, but the French giants have Kylian Mbappe for that.
Real may go through a big reshuffle of their offensive line this summer after not only Asensio, but also Karim Benzema and Mariano Diaz are set to leave. Moreover, Eden Hazard, who is no longer part of the club's plan, wants to run down his contract as well, according to The Athletic.
Real have been chasing Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund for a long time and they are capable of bringing him to the Santiago Bernabeu. However, the Spanish powerhouse is understandably after more than him to build a new Galacticos.