Transfer Centre

Zinedine Zidane 'wants to keep Marco Asensio at Real Madrid'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 01 July 2019

Zidane 'wants to keep Asensio at Real Madrid'

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is reportedly keen to keep Marco Asensio at the club this summer despite claims that they would be open to a swap deal with Sadio Mane.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has reportedly told the club that he wants to keep Marco Asensio at the Bernabeu this summer.

The 23-year-old made just 19 La Liga starts for Los Blancos last season, leading to renewed speculation over his future amid a summer of change in the Spanish capital following a disappointing 2018-19 campaign.

Recent reports had suggested that a swap deal with Liverpool which would see Sadio Mane head in the opposite direction could be on the cards, but Marca claims that Zidane is against selling the Spain international.

The Frenchman is willing to give Asensio a chance to save his Madrid career during the 2019-20 season despite having already bolstered his attacking ranks by signing Luka Jovic and Eden Hazard.

The likes of Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Lucas Vazquez provide further competition for places, but Zidane has reportedly assured Asensio that he does still have a future at the club.

Asensio joined Madrid in 2014 and has gone on to score 27 goals in 135 matches for the club across all competitions.