Marco Asensio became the second signing of the Luis Enrique era when he joined Paris Saint-Germain from Real Madrid at the start of the 2023 transfer window. His arrival looked to be a statement of intent from Les Parisiens, not so much in the sense that they were flexing their financial muscle, but because he looked like the ideal player for a new playing system.
Asensio had previously worked under Luis Enrique as a false nine during Spain’s run to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. And as the 2023/24 campaign began, there was a sense that the Spaniard would be operating in that role as one of the clear reference points for the team. Someone who understood and could carry out Luis Enrique’s positional play.
After only four games, Asensio picked up a foot injury that would rule him out for the majority of the first half of the season. By 2024, he returned more regularly to the lineup, but the context of the team had changed. The Spaniard was no longer a reference point for the team to adapt to, he was someone who needed to adapt to the team.
In his absence, Kylian Mbappé and Gonçalo Ramos were more regularly utilised as the number nine. However, with Mbappé departing for Real Madrid at the end of his contract and Ramos picking up an injury in the first game of the 2024/25 campaign, Asensio has found himself once again heavily relied upon as the false nine in a strikerless system.
An uncertain 2025 awaits Asensio
Domestically the reward has been PSG rising to the top of the table and registering the best attack in the league. And while Asensio has not been directly involved in many of the goals, with the Spaniard only recording two goals and four assists, this is not the true measure of his usefulness within the squad. His role has been that of someone who can help to create a more fluid team helping to facilitate goals arriving from different areas of the pitch.
The disappointment for Asensio this season is that he has not been often utilised in Les Parisiens Champions League campaign. Luis Enrique has instead opted for other options as he looks to kickstart a European journey that has been far from fruitful for last season’s semi-finalists.
Asensio has clearly been useful this season as one of Luis Enrique’s striking options, but it will have to be seen how he will be further used in 2025 with the return of Ramos.
