Marco Asensio’s career had stalled, but the Spaniard is blossoming again at Fenerbahce with some spectacular performances. His coach Domenico Tedesco is now pushing for him to be included in the World Cup squad.
Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward again. Marco Asensio knows this all too well: in the summer of 2023, he left Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League three times, the league title three times and the Spanish Cup once in his eight years with the club. However, he did not get the playing time he wanted at his new club, Paris St.-Germain. In February 2025, he was loaned to Aston Villa in England and six months later ended up in Turkey with Fenerbahce Istanbul.
A new start, far away from the top leagues – and it seems to be working. In 28 competitive games, the powerful left-footed player has already contributed eleven goals and eight assists to the strong season of the second-placed team, and February has been nothing short of formidable. In the 2-0 win at Kocaelispor, he fired the ball into the net from 30 meters with his left foot, earning special applause from Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran when he was substituted late in the game. The Mallorcan also scored in the cup against Erzurumspor (3-1), and his assist for the second goal in Monday evening’s 3-1 league win against Genclerbirligi was once again worthy of the world-class label. From around 35 meters out, Asensio flicked the ball with his left heel past the goalkeeper and into the path of Kerem Aktürkoglu.
For Asensio, who is in great form, it is now time to set new goals. “I hope that Luis de la Fuente is watching in Turkey, the national team is a clear goal for me,” he said in an interview with Marca, addressing the Spanish national coach. The 30-year-old was last nominated in September 2023.
The problem for Asensio is the strong competition in the Seleccion, as the reigning European champions certainly have no shortage of attacking midfielders. “Fortunately, Spain has good players. I’m not the one who has to select them, I don’t have to make that decision,” said Fenerbahce coach Domenico Tedesco. Nevertheless, he believes Asensio has what it takes to make a comeback. “Asensio is a top-level player. He has all the qualities to play in the World Cup,” said the former Schalke coach.