Carlo Ancelotti admits Milan and Arsenal target Marco Asensio was angry for not being introduced in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Mallorca: ‘I’m aware he is the most affected player.’
The Spaniard didn’t hide his frustration at remaining on the bench for 90 minutes in Madrid’s 4-1 win victory at the Bernabeu on Sunday.
Ancelotti had spotted his angry reaction in the second half and said at the end of the match that he agreed with the Spaniard.
“The reality is that I wanted to make the two changes. We were prepared. Hadn’t we scored the 2-1, I’d have introduced Mariano and Asensio. Lucas was injured and we only had one window [for substitutions], and I didn’t think about making that change,” he said at a press conference.
“Yes he [Asensio] is angry and I agree with him. It’s normal, it means he wants to play, to feel important. In this period he has been the most affected player in the squad and I take that into account. I totally agree with his anger, nothing happens.”
Asensio sees his Madrid contract run out in the summer and, as things stand, he is not expected to sign a new deal with the club.
The 26-year-old was linked with Milan and Arsenal in the summer, with his previous agent confirming in April that both the Rossoneri and the Gunners were in talks to sign him.
However, Asensio eventually remained in Madrid after picking Jorge Mendes as his new representative. If the Spaniard doesn’t get more playing time in the coming months, he will likely ask to leave in January, six months before the end of his contract at the Bernabeu.