Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio says he ‘didn’t care’ about Lionel Messi leaving bitter rivals Barcelona last summer… but admits he prefers playing against ‘the best’ in LaLiga
- Lionel Messi pushed for a move away from Barcelona during the summer window
- Marco Asensio says he wasn’t bothered about the Argentine staying or leaving
- The Real Madrid forward did admit that he prefers playing against ‘the best’
- Asensio says he feels good again after recovering from a serious knee injury
Marco Asensio insists he ‘didn’t care’ whether Lionel Messi left Barcelona last summer, despite Real Madrid‘s bitter rivalry with the Catalan giants.
Messi pushed for a move to Manchester City after becoming frustrated with life at the Nou Camp under president Josep Bartomeu and the current board.
Barca’s embarrassing 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals was also a major factor, with the Argentine eyeing up a fresh start in the Premier League.
Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio (left) battles for the ball during a LaLiga clash against Levante
Asensio insists he ‘didn’t care’ whether Lionel Messi left bitter rivals Barcelona last summer
However, after Bartomeu refused to allow his star man to walk away for free, Messi announced his intention to stay for the final year of his contract.
Asensio, who will likely come up against the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in El Clasico this season, says he wasn’t fussed whether Barca lost their talisman or not.
‘I didn’t care if Messi left or stayed,’ he told El Transistor.
‘That he stayed will be better for Barcelona; I like playing against the best.’
Asensio’s focus is on earning a regular spot under manager Zinedine Zidane, having been restricted to just nine LaLiga appearances due to a cruciate knee ligament injury last season.
Asensio is trying to make himself a regular under Zinedine Zidane after suffering a major injury
Zidane has handed Asensio one start and an appearance off the bench so far this season
‘Of course I would like to be in the starting XI and play, but that is up to the coach,’ he said.
‘I feel just as good, if not better, than before the injury.
‘I have always felt a lot of pressure, I understand that people expect a lot from me and what I want is to justify that faith with titles for Real Madrid.’
