Marco Asensio: The New Spanish Golden Boy

Spain has had a plethora of top players in the last 15 years which has enabled them to win both the World Cup and Euros. The famous Spanish sides of 2008, 2010 and 2012 were brimming with world class players in every position and they haven’t stopped producing talents. After producing the likes of Iker.Xavi,Iniesta,Puyol,Pique,Villa,Ramos, Xabi Alonso,Buesqets,Senna,Silva etc Spain has been continuously producing a crop of top players.Today the Spanish squad has Ramos,Buesqets,Silva and Alba remaining from the old guards and they are supported by a group of players in their prime like Carvajal, Isco,Thiago,Costa,Rodrigo,Alonso,Azpulicueta,Koke,De Gea,Nacho,Gaya etc and supported by upcoming (and already established in some cases) huge talents like Asensio,Saul,Odriozola,Ceballos and Co. The Spanish teams from 08,10 and 12 had Barcelona forming the core but now the role has reversed with Real Madrid forming the core with as many as six Real players playing in their recent 6-0 thumping of the World Cup finalists Croatia. But the one name which is shining bright is the boy from Palma, Marco Asensio, being touted as the golden boy of Spanish football.

Asensio has already been turning heads donning the famous white shirt of Real Madrid where he has already won two UCL and one La Liga. He started his career at Mallorca and was courted by multiple clubs but ultimately was acquired by Real Madrid for a paltry €3.9 million fee and spend two years on loan ,first at Mallorca and next year at Espanyol. It was at Espanyol where he started showing what he is truly capable of and Madrid did not waste any time to bring him in next year. If rumours are to be believed, then both Barca and Tottenham had the chance to sign him but opted otherwise and was acquired by Madrid virtually uncontested. It can prove to be a catastrophic error in judgement from both the clubs and already is looking so since Asensio already has established himself among the top young talents in world football.

What’s most striking in Asensio is his ruthlessly simple and effective style and his complete package of skills and strengths. His close dribbling and first touch is fantastic,has pace, his passing is superb,his movement with and without the ball is precise and he has one of the most devastating left foot.Already he has scored multiple screamers and golazos. His versatility means he can play on both wings equally well and can also play as a second striker or no 10. His style and grace is similar to James Rodriguez since they both possess silky touches, vision and a venomous left foot. However Asensio is a much better dribbler than James and much more fast which enables him to play in any attacking position compared to James, who perhaps is not as effective at wings compared to when he is playing in the centre as a playmaker or a second striker. Sky is the limit for him and Asensio have already produced performances showing his phenomenal capabilities and abilities. His team mate Odriozola believes that Asensio can go on to become one of the best Spanish players in history and it is an entirely plausible assertion. In the post Messi Ronaldo era, Asensio can be one of the players dazzling the world of football and reigning supreme among his compatriots.