Rothen: “Asensio doesn’t care about PSG, he only cares about money”
Ex-PSG player Jerôme Rothen has labelled Asensio a mercenary who is only going to PSG for money.
Except for any last-minute surprises, Marco Asensio will become PSG’s second signing of the summer, following in the footsteps of Milan Skriniar. The Spaniard, who is nearing the end of his contract with Real Madrid, will sign a four or five-year deal with the Parisians as a free agent.
Asensio’s proposed free transfer move has prompted some comments in the football world. Jerôme Rothen, a former PSG player who hosts RMC Sport program, Rothen s’enflamme, claims that the Spaniard is moving to Paris purely for financial reasons.
“I like Asensio. At Real Madrid he way into the side was blocked because there was always someone ahead of him. But eight million euros a year as a basic salary for a player who isn’t a first team regular... PSG is a club where players can earn good money. He is a free agent, so it is normal that they have made an effort to sign him him; but he’s only coming for the money. I don’t think he is coming to PSG for the right reasons. PSG’s way of recruiting is not good, we need a different project. He doesn’t care whether he wears PSG’s shirt, or Manchester United’s, Manchester City’s or Chelsea’s,” Rothen argued.
How well will Asensio adapt to Paris, Ligue 1...
He continued: “First, you have to structure the squad. In sporting terms, there aren’t many big clubs that are knocking on his door, and even less at that price... Afterwards, Asensio isn’t necessarily a bad signing on paper. But will he adapt to Paris with the right conditions to succeed? I don’t know... At that price, he’ll go take pictures at the Eiffel Tower, play a few games and then get injured... I hope he does better than Julian Draxler (continually injured and loaned out at Benfica). But it’s the same type of hiring process”.
Asensio will join PSG to try to provide greater depth to a squad lacking in manpower to play three competitions. One of the club’s biggest problems this season was the difficulty it had in finding substitutes for the starters. On Sunday, against Athletic Club, Asensio will say goodbye to the Bernabéu before heading to Paris. The move will be made officiality in a matter of days.