Marco Asensio

Marco Asensio
Asensio with Real Madrid in 2018
Personal information
Full name Marco Asensio Willemsen[1]
Date of birth (1996-01-21) 21 January 1996[1]
Place of birth Palma, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position Winger / Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Real Madrid
Number 20
Youth career
2003–2006 Platges de Calvià
2006–2013 Mallorca
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Mallorca B 14 (3)
2013–2014 Mallorca 37 (4)
2014– Real Madrid 63 (10)
2014–2015 → Mallorca (loan) 19 (3)
2015–2016 → Espanyol (loan) 34 (4)
National team‡
2012 Spain U16 2 (0)
2014–2015 Spain U19 12 (8)
2015–2017 Spain U21 18 (7)
2016– Spain 17 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:30, 6 October 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 September 2018

Marco Asensio Willemsen (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmaɾko aˈsensjo]; born 21 January 1996) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for Real Madrid and the Spain national team.

After starting out at Mallorca, he signed with Real Madrid in November 2014, being consecutively loaned to his former club as well as Espanyol. Upon his return, he went on to win several honours, including two Champions League trophies.

Asensio made his senior debut for Spain in 2016. He represented the nation at the 2018 World Cup.

Early life

Born in Palma, Majorca, Balearic Islands to a Dutch mother and a Spanish father,[3] Asensio joined RCD Mallorca in 2006 from CF Platges de Calvià. His mother, Maria Willemsen, died of cancer when he was 15.[4]

Asensio struggled with growth deficiencies in his knees during his youth, which only subsided when he was a teenager.[5]

Club career

Mallorca

After being scouted by Real Madrid and FC Barcelona,[6] Asensio made his senior debut with Mallorca's reserves in the 2013–14 season in Tercera División, despite still being a junior; he made his first competitive appearance for the first team on 27 October 2013, playing the last six minutes in a 1–3 away loss against Recreativo de Huelva for the Segunda División.[7]

Again from the bench, Asensio played the last six minutes in a 0–0 home draw against CD Lugo.[8] After impressing in his first games, he was promoted to the first team by manager José Luis Oltra.[9]

Asensio scored his first professional goal on 16 March 2014, netting the first in a 2–0 home win over CD Tenerife.[10] He was made a starter under new coach Valeri Karpin,[11] scoring against CA Osasuna,[12] Deportivo Alavés[13] and UE Llagostera within a month.[14]

Real Madrid

On 24 November 2014, Real Madrid reached an agreement in principle to sign Asensio.[15] On 5 December the deal was officially announced, with the player signing a six-year deal for a €3.9 million fee[16] and remaining with the Bermellones on loan until the end of the campaign.[17][18]

On 20 August 2015, after making the whole pre-season with Real Madrid, Asensio was loaned to RCD Espanyol in La Liga.[19] He played his first game in the competition on 19 September, featuring 86 minutes in a 3–2 success at Real Sociedad,[20] and he ended his spell at the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with 12 overall assists.[21][22]

Returned to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for 2016–17, Asensio's first competitive appearance took place on 9 August, as he played the full 120 minutes and scored through a 25-meter effort in a 3–2 win against fellow Spaniards Sevilla FC in the UEFA Super Cup.[23] He made his first league start 12 days later, netting the second goal in a 3–0 success at Real Sociedad.[24]

Asensio featured 23 times over his first season, scoring three times[25][26] as the club won the national championship for the first time since 2012.[27][28] He added as many goals in that year's UEFA Champions League,[29][30] including one in the final against Juventus F.C. (4–1) to give the Spaniards their 12th title in the latter competition.[31]

Asensio scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season with a 25-yard finish in a 3–1 win over Barcelona at the Camp Nou, for the Supercopa de España,[32] He repeated the feat with a similarly spectacular effort in the second leg, in a 5–1 aggregate triumph.[33]

On 28 September 2017, Asensio extended his contract until 2023.[34] On 18 February 2018, in a match where he contributed with a brace to a 5–3 away win over Real Betis, he scored Real Madrid's 6,000th goal in the Spanish top division.[35]

Asensio made 11 appearances while scoring one goal during the 2017–18 Champions League,[36] and the club won its third consecutive and 13th overall title in the competition.[37]

International career

Asensio during a 2017 European Under-21 Championship match against Portugal.

After being a regular for Spain at youth level, Asensio made his debut for the under-21 team on 26 March 2015, coming on as a late substitute for goalscorer Gerard Deulofeu in a 2–0 friendly win over Norway in Cartagena.[38] In July, he was part of the victorious under-19 side at the UEFA European Championship in Greece, where he scored both goals in a semi-final victory over France in Katerini, in the 88th minute and in added time.[39]

On 17 May 2016, Asensio and Espanyol teammate Pau López were called up to the full side for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.[40] He made his debut on the 29th, starting in the 3–1 win in Switzerland.[41]

Selected in the squad for the 2017 European Under-21 Championship by manager Albert Celades, Asensio scored a hat-trick in his debut in the competition, helping to a 5–0 group stage routing of Macedonia.[42] Back with the seniors, he was included in Julen Lopetegui's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup,[43] making his debut in the competition on 20 June by replacing Real Madrid teammate Lucas Vázquez for the final ten minutes of the 1–0 group stage win against Iran.[44]

Asensio scored his first goal for Spain on 11 September 2018, playing the entire 6–0 home rout of Croatia for the UEFA Nations League and also being directly involved in the play that led to Lovre Kalinić's own goal.[45]

Personal life

Asensio's father, Gilberto, was also a footballer. Also an attacking midfielder, he represented Barakaldo CF as a youth.[46] His elder brother, Igor, notably played for Platges de Calvià as a defender.[47] Asensio's goal celebration in the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final was dedicated to his family: "I told them that if I scored then I'd run to where they were. I knew where they were and this is what I did."[48]

Career statistics

Club

As of 6 October 2018
Club Season League Copa del Rey Champions
League		 Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Mallorca B 2013–14[49] Tercera División 143———143
Mallorca 2013–14[49] Segunda División 20100——201
2014–15[49] Segunda División 36600——366
Total 56700——567
Espanyol (loan) 2015–16[49] La Liga 34430——374
Real Madrid 2016–17[49] La Liga 233638[lower-alpha 1]31[lower-alpha 2]13810
2017–18[49] La Liga 3265212[lower-alpha 1]14[lower-alpha 3]25311
2018–19[49] La Liga 81002[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0111
Total 63101152246310222
Career total 167241452246320936
  1. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  2. 1 2 Appearance in UEFA Super Cup
  3. ↑ One appearance in UEFA Super Cup, two appearances and two goals in Supercopa de España, one appearance in FIFA Club World Cup

International

As of 11 September 2018[50]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain
201620
201760
201891
Total171

International goals

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Asensio goal.[50]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 September 2018Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain17 Croatia2–06–02018–19 UEFA Nations League A

Honours

Club

Real Madrid

International

Spain U19

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017: List of players: Real Madrid CF" (PDF). FIFA. 16 December 2017. p. 5. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "Seguido desde hace meses por la élite europe" [Followed by the European elite for months]. Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish). 27 August 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Asensio no pudo contener las lágrimas al recordar a su madre" [Asensio could not hold back the tears when remembering his mother] (in Spanish). OK Diario. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "El grave problema que sufrió Marco Asensio en su infancia" [The serious problem from which Marco Asensio suffered in his youth] (in Spanish). Don Balón Rosa. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Madrid y Barça pugnan por Asensio" [Madrid and Barça fight for Asensio]. Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish). 25 February 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "Linares reafirma el liderato del Decano" [Linares confirms first place for the Dean]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 October 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "Los lucenses tiran de oficio para resistir en el Iberostar" [Lucences resort to know-how to resist at Iberostar]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  9. ↑ "Marco Asensio llama a la puerta" [Marco Asensio knocks on the door]. Última Hora (in Spanish). 4 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Asensio y Thomas dan aire a los baleares ante un flojo Tenerife" [Asensio and Thomas give air to the Balearic against a weak Tenerife]. Marca (in Spanish). 16 March 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Los imprescindibles de Karpin" [Karpin's undisputed]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 October 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Osasuna y Mallorca firman otro aluvión de goles: 6–4" [Osasuna and Mallorca sign another goal flood: 6–4]. ABC (in Spanish). 21 September 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "2–0: Marco Asensio salva del despido a Karpin" [2–0: Marco Asensio prevents sacking of Karpin]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 11 October 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  14. ↑ "El Mallorca golea al Llagostera y sale del descenso" [Mallorca rout Llagostera and leave relegation zone]. Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish). 19 October 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  15. ↑ "Marco Asensio, Bernabéu-bound". Marca. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "Marco Asensio, al Real Madrid por 3,9 millones" [Marco Asensio, to Real Madrid for 3.9 million]. Marca (in Spanish). 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "Official announcement: Marco Asensio". Real Madrid C.F. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "Mallorca y Madrid cierran el traspaso de Marco Asensio" [Mallorca and Madrid complete the transfer of Marco Asensio] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 5 December 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Official announcement: Marco Asensio". Real Madrid C.F. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  20. ↑ "El Espanyol se rehabilita en Anoeta" [Espanyol rehabilitate in Anoeta]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 19 September 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  21. ↑ "Asensio crece en el Espanyol: está en el Top-10 de asistencias" [Asensio grows in Espanyol: he makes Top-10 in assists]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 17 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "El Espanyol colgará el cuadro de su internacional 43: Asensio" [Espanyol will hang its 43rd international in the rafters: Asensio]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 1 June 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  23. 1 2 "Dani Carvajal's late goal in ET helps Real Madrid win UEFA Super Cup". ESPN FC. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  24. ↑ "Morata y Marco Asensio modernizan al Real Madrid" [Morata and Marco Asensio modernise Real Madrid]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  25. ↑ "Fiebre amarilla" [Yellow fever]. Marca (in Spanish). 24 September 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  26. ↑ "El Madrid se pasea en Eibar" [Madrid go sightseeing in Eibar]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 4 March 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  27. ↑ "El Real Madrid, campeón de LaLiga Santander 2016/17" [Real Madrid, LaLiga Santander champions 2016/17] (in Spanish). La Liga. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  28. ↑ "Malaga 0–2 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  29. ↑ "Real Madrid 5–1 Legia Warsaw". BBC Sport. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  30. ↑ "Real Madrid 4–2 Bayern Munich". BBC Sport. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  31. 1 2 "Majestic Real Madrid win Champions League in Cardiff". UEFA. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  32. ↑ "Cristiano Ronaldo sent off but Real Madrid easily beat Barcelona". ESPN FC. 13 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  33. 1 2 "Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 0 (5–1 on aggregate): Woeful Barca dismissed as Zinedine Zidane's unstoppable side win Super Cup". The Daily Telegraph. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  34. ↑ "Ceremony to mark Asensio's contract renewal". Real Madrid C.F. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  35. ↑ "Doblete de Asensio y gol 6000 del Madrid en la Liga" [Asensio brace and goal 6000 from Madrid in League]. Sport (in Spanish). 18 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  36. ↑ "Así llegan Real Madrid y Liverpool a la final de la Champions" [That is how Real Madrid and Liverpool arrive to the Champions final] (in Spanish). RCN Radio. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  37. ↑ "Madrid beat Liverpool to complete hat-trick". UEFA. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  38. ↑ Muñoz, Antonio D. (26 March 2015). "Spain beats Norway and strengthens the team (2–0)". Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  39. ↑ Haslam, Andrew (16 July 2015). "Late Asensio strikes take Spain into final again". UEFA. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  40. ↑ "Pau López y Marco Asensio, convocados por Del Bosque" [Pau López and Marco Asensio, called up by Del Bosque] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  41. ↑ "Nolito endulza un duelo atípico" [Nolito sweetens an atypical duel]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  42. ↑ "Asensio scores fifth U21 EURO finals hat-trick". UEFA. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  43. ↑ "Morata misses out on Spain's 23-man World Cup squad". Goal. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  44. ↑ "Diego Costa scores again, Spain beats Iran 1–0 at World Cup". The New York Times. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  45. ↑ Dunne, Robbie (11 September 2018). "Spain – Croatia match report: UEFA Nations League". Diario AS. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  46. ↑ "El padre de Asensio soñó con ver jugar a su hijo en el Athletic" [Asensio's father dreamt of seeing his son playing with Athletic]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 22 October 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  47. ↑ "Marco Asensio, la joya mileurista" [Marco Asensio, the mileurista pearl]. Marca (in Spanish). 14 October 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  48. ↑ Lara, Miguel Ángel; McTear, Euan (11 October 2018). "Asensio returns to Cardiff, a city of happy memories". Marca. Madrid. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  49. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Marco Asensio". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  50. 1 2 "Marco Asensio". European Football. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  51. ↑ "Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick fires Real Madrid to Club World Cup glory". The Guardian. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  52. ↑ "Spain see off Russia for seventh Under-19 crown". UEFA. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  53. ↑ "Marco Asensio, mejor jugador de la Liga Adelante en octubre" [Marco Asensio, best player of Liga Adelante in October] (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Profesional. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  54. ↑ "2015: Marco Asensio". UEFA. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  55. ↑ "Modric and Asensio receive LaLiga awards". Real Madrid C.F. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  56. ↑ "Saúl Ñíguez wins U21 EURO adidas Golden Boot". UEFA. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  57. ↑ "Official Under-21 Team of the Tournament". UEFA. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
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