Zinedine Zidane once told Newcastle United 'target' Marco Asensio that he had the best left foot he'd seen since Lionel Messi. That's high praise from the former Real Madrid boss who was speaking about the Spaniard after a hugely impressive start to life at the Bernabeu.
"Zidane told me that since Messi, he had never seen a left foot like mine," Asensio told Spanish radio station COPE ahead of his side's Champions League opener against Greek team Apoel Nicosia, back in 2017. "I was a little impressed, because Messi is a piece of a footballer."
Asensio scored double figures in his first two full seasons in the Spanish capital after signing from Mallorca in 2015. Los Blancos sent the winger out on loan to Espanyol where he got his first taste of La Liga football.
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The Spanish international has been an ever present in almost every season with Los Merengues but was linked with a move to Liverpool back in 2019. The winger was highly thought of by Zidane who said Asensio was a fundamental part of his squad.
"I have spoken to him and told him that he will be fundamental to the team," Zidane said. "And I want him here with us." The 26-year-old has won three Champions League titles, three La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Super Cups and three Club World Cups.
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