The future of Asensio and Ceballos remains in suspense

A few hours after the current League champion debuts against Almería in the 2022-2023 season, the squad, on paper, is closed. Ancelotti is happy with what he has and he confesses it publicly when the question appears. He doesn’t want trading cards. However, there are two cases that remain open. Asensio and Ceballos, two of the Madrid players who have been on the exit ramp during the market, are still accompanied by a certain buzz. “The players are here and they are working well. Everyone can have an opinion about their future with the club. I am focused on the squad I have with Ceballos and Asensio. If something changes in his head, we adapt.” This is the phrase of the Italian coach that best exemplifies the situation of both. Carletto has them, although they have players ahead in their order of preference and this, with the World Cup in Qatar on the horizon, makes the future uncertain. Especially if a last minute offer appeared that posed a swerve. Asensio and Ceballos want to have minutes to enter into Luis Enrique’s plans and Madrid don’t guarantee them. So games like Almería, where rotations are expected, are crucial for both.

Dani Ceballos (26 years old) is to the liking of the Italian coach. Last season he made his debut on matchday 20 of the League due to a serious ankle injury that did not allow him to enter the squad until December 19. However, since he was available he has participated in 18 games (338 minutes), including the last five Champions League games. Despite entering in the final moments, Ancelotti had the courtesy to make the utrerano participate in the success in Paris. He only enjoyed two starts, but Ancelotti publicly praised him whenever he had the chance. He finished the course well preseason started off great: he has been one of the most outstanding in the tour of the United States, in addition to arriving in spectacular physical shape. The arrival of Tchouameni will cause him to be the team’s seventh midfielder (although Valverde is increasingly attacking) and there won’t be many minutes available. The World Cup invites greater rotations, but most will arrive in the second leg of the season, once the legs are loaded with kilometers…

Asensio’s time

The situation of the Balearic Islands is similar to that of Ceballos, although it has a higher hierarchy. ASensio, who did not play any minute against Eintracht, aims to start against Almería. Rodrygo’s injury (overload in the right thigh) and Valverde’s possible return to midfield make this situation possible. In a season in which, as we say, the minutes will be very expensive, he will have to take advantage of any opportunity that Ancelotti gives him. Last season was irregular: at times he showed his full potential and in other games he tiptoed past. The consequence was that in the important matches, Ancelotti ended up betting on the aforementioned Valverde and Rodrygo, relegating Marco to the background. Despite this, for many sections he was the piece that completed the trident alongside Benzema and Vinicius. His numbers were remarkable: in the 42 games he played (2110 minutes), he managed to score 12 goalsbecoming the team’s third goalscorer.

The problem is that, for 2022-2023, the competition for your position will be even greater. Rodrygo has earned an upward renewal and ended up launching the course; Valverde, with his imposing physical display, is the ‘8’ chosen by Ancelotti for the big nights; and even Hazard can play in any of the three positions above. This does not mean that Carletto don’t count on him. He is aware that in addition to the World Cup, both Asensio and Ceballos have a contract until 2023 and this could invite a last-minute swerve. In the last break, the Mallorcan was summoned by Luis Enrique and to maintain confidence and opt to travel to Qatar, you need to play. For all this, for Asensio the match against Almería will not be one more. It can also serve as a showcase. And it is that, until August 31, everything can happen.