Arsenal target turns down HUGE contract to become free agent

Tom Weber

• 26 May 2023 20:15 BST
• 3 min read

Real Madrid star Marco Asensio has reportedly turned down the chance to sign a new contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Once one of the biggest talents at Real Madrid, Asensio has seen his role diminish, and now the chickens may come home to roost for Florentino Perez and company.

Spanish media had previously claimed that the club was confident of tying the 27-year-old down to a new deal despite the process dragging on. Now, however, news breaking out of Spain, and since backed up by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, state that Asensio has turned down Madrid's offer, electing instead to become a free agent this summer.

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This is a surprising U-turn and has put many of Europe's top clubs on high alert.

Assessing Asensio's options

The 27-year-old had previously been linked with Arsenal, with reports alleging that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has promised Asensio an important role in his side in order to persuade him to spurn Real Madrid's contracts approaches and Barcelona, who were also reported to be interested in him at the time.

Transfer guru Romano refused to name specific clubs monitoring the situation, merely stating that Premier League clubs had been informed by super agent Jorge Mendes. If Arsenal were previously interested in Asensio, we can expect them to be eyeing him once again now.

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The one side Romano did mention was PSG, who will be in the market for one or even two wide forwards this summer in order to overhaul their frontline as Messi and possibly even Neymar are set to depart the Parc des Princes this summer.

Asensio has racked up 12 goals and eight assists in 50 outings this term, though this is actually a very decent return considering most of his appearances have come off the bench - a fact that has surely informed his decision not to renew.