• March 28, 2024

Marco Asensio tears ACL in pre-season match against Arsenal

ACL tear marco asensio

Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio could miss the entire season after having to be stretchered off the pitch during Los Blancos 2-2 pre-season friendly against Arsenal.

The 23-year-old Spanish international went down following what appeared to be a harmless challenge with Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The incident occurred in the 67th minute during the International Champions Cup clash in FedEx Stadium Washington D.C.

The former Mallorca player was in tears while being carried off the pitch to a waiting ambulance that took him to a nearby hospital for treatment.

While talking to reporters after the match Real Madrid trainer Zinedine Zidane said: “We’re a little worried (by Asensio),” admitted Zidane. “It’s the knee. He went straight to the hospital to get tested and see. But it looks bad!

“It’s the bad thing of the day for us because we lose a player and we are a little touched, yes.”

While Real Madrid medical staff are yet to reveal Asensio’s injury, several reports coming out of Spain say that a scan has revealed a ruptured ACL in his left knee.

If this is true, Asensio would most likely be out of action for the entire season.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is adamant that no matter how serious Asensio’s injury is it will have no impact on Gareth Bale’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Before the incident, Marco Asensio was having what would be described as a good game! He had hit the post, scored a goal and was moving the ball around nicely.

Then suddenly in the 64th minute when he went to ground after a poorly timed defensive challenge against Arsenal attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

While Marco Asensio’s injury will have no impact on the future of Welsh winger Gareth Bale, it could certainly raise questions about the future of Dani Ceballos.

Before Asensio’s injury, the Spanish U-21 international was on the verge of a loan move to Arsenal, but now the central midfielder may be needed to take over Asensio’s role in the team.

When asked if the young Mallocan’s injury could put the Ceballos loan move in jeopardy, Arsenal manager Unai Emery said: “I don’t know. Really our target in the match was not to take injuries and they have maybe a big injury with Asensio. It’s bad news for them and also for us”.

“I don’t know if it can change something.”

Emery was looking to sign Ceballos on a season-long loan to make up for the loss of Aaron Ramsey who joined Italian Serie A giants Juventus as a free agent.

The match saw Arsenal suffer their first defeat of the pre-season after Real Madrid secured a win on penalties following the 2-2 draw in Washington.