Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio has joined La Liga rivals Espanyol on a season-long loan, the club has confirmed.
Los Blancos announced the move on their official website and social media, saying: “Real Madrid and Espanyol have reached an agreement to loan the player Marco Asensio for the 2015-2016 season.”
The 19-year-old signed for the club in the winter transfer window after impressing for Real Mallorca. He signed a six-year deal with the 10-time Champions League winners but was immediately loaned back to the Segunda Division club for the remainder of the campaign. In total, he scored seven goals from 45 appearances last season.
Asensio missed Real’s tour of Australia and China this summer as he was representing Spain Under 19s but new boss Rafa Benitez has had a look at him from close quarters in recent weeks and has decided a loan deal is best.
The switch to Espanyol will allow Asensio to gain first team football at the highest level in Spain and Real officials are confident he will be a regular starter. The Catalan outfit were also in need of a winger having sold former Los Blancos youth player Lucas Vasquez back to the Santiago Bernabeu side earlier this summer.
