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FT In The Future: Asensio and Richarlison usher in the new generation for Spain and Brazil
Richarlison’s slick start at Premier League side, Everton continued with a brace for Brazil and Real Madrid’s Asensio made a powerful statement in the UEFA Nations League. He looks set to star in La Liga and eventually work to ensure Los Blancos will not miss Cristiano Ronaldo. The story about these two is a story of the future.
“He is really not going to be a Neymar, showboating everywhere or rolling on the floor at times - but a vibrant, aggressive winger who will always find it hard not to be on the score-sheet. With the support of Gabriel Jesus’ goal poaching abilities upfront, Brazil’s future eleven will not be bad at all.”
Even as the Les Blues party continues and features about Mbappe and his swaggy teammates rocking the World Cup gold spring up exponentially, we are eager to start exploring what is to come. Who are looking to be likely favorites to take a claim at France’s throne? Will the Germans find their feet quickly after a disappointing Russia 2018 campaign? Who are we overlooking as far as nations’ football is concerned? Now, we would love to have answers to all of the above but we don’t. Will most likely not know until we get there. That’s the beauty of football. The unpredictability of the sport. One thing is for sure though, Spain’s Marco Asensio and Brazilian’s Richarlison are looking like they will always be protagonists, wherever they will be. Here and now. Here is why?
They headlined the UEFA Nations League, but its really nothing new…
Richarlison of Everton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton FC at Molineux on August 11, 2018 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)
Brace-heart Richarlison
The 21-year-old, sure knows how to make a statement. If anyone had thought that his springboard start to life at Everton after a £50 million move from Premier League side, Watford was a fluke, I wonder what they are saying now. The young forward scored a brace against Wolves in his first game in an Everton shirt and has followed suit by doing the same thing in his full Brazilian debut against El Salvador. A beautifully curled right footed shot into the top corner in the first half and a beautifully place left-footed finesse after gathering Coutinho’s spoils in the second half helped ensure Brazil walked away as 5-0 winners. I thought the first goal was immaculate but the second one, no superlative suffices. The half-chance he utilised to make that goal hints at the quality and class of Richarlison. He is really not going to be a Neymar, showboating everywhere or rolling on the floor at times - but a vibrant, aggressive winger who will always find it hard not to be on the score-sheet. With the support of Gabriel Jesus’ goal poaching abilities upfront, Brazil’s future eleven should stay strong.
Cliche Asensio-shots
As for Asensio, not much really need to be said about the 22-year-old Real Madrid forward. It is true that he is earmarked to play a major role in Los Blancos’ attempts to fill Cristiano Ronaldo’s shoes alongside Gareth Bale and Isco, because he’s got the sauce! Asensio opened his Spanish first team account with an Asensio goal, a left-footed drive from the midfield after cheeky leg movements and assisted La Furia Roja’s three other goals in their 6-0 thrashing of the 2018 World Cup finalists, Croatia. He could have had a second, but hit the woodwork instead with a slightly similar shot that the goalkeeper deflected into his own net for an own goal. We have seen this time and time again at Madrid by Asensio and with him looking to be a key figure in the new Spanish choir with Dani Ceballos, Saul Niguez, Odriozola, Kepa and Isco - this won’t be the last time we will write awfully a lot about the Spaniard. Asensio himself is prepared to conquer:
“With Cristiano or without him I have the same aim of having a first team place and being important. So far so good, I have started the season well and I am working well.”
Starring roles fine-tune stars
Sergio Ramos of Spain celebrates after scoring his team's fifth goal with Marco Asensio of Spain during the UEFA Nations League A Group four match between Spain and Croatia at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on September 11, 2018 in Elche, Spain.
(Sept. 10, 2018 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe)
If there is one thing we have learned about Kylian Mbappe’s rise to stardom, it is simply that giving a young player responsibility makes all the difference. Mbappe was one of the names on the scoresheet in Leornado Jardim’s Monaco side that reached the 2017 UEFA Champions League semi-final at just eighteen. He really got a chance to make and correct a lot of mistakes while at the same time being motivated by the fact that he was doing important work for the team. Unai Emery never hesitated to play him alongside more established names of Neymar and Cavani, even choosing to bench the likes of Di Maria and Julian Draxler and so did Didier Deschamps who even handed him the symbolic number ten shirt at the world cup finals. Well, it’s no secret that Mbappe is an exceptional talent but the faith put in him were not a small matter in growing him.
The good news for Asensio and Richarlison is that even though they are not eighteen like Mbappe, Everton’s Marco Silva does not look like he is going to drop the Brazilian anytime soon and Lopetegui definitely sees Asensio as a key ingredient in his Ronaldo-less Real Madrid. These protagonist roles will inevitably unleash more of what these boys possese.
Onlookers believe
Here is what a few other people in the football world have said about these two:
“The little things that he does are a little bit like a young Ronaldo. I’m not saying he can be as good as him but he does special things on the ball that only a few people can do - he drifts past people… if the manager can polish the diamond that’s there then he’s on to something.”
“I already knew him from the Under-21s. I said back in the day that he’s going to be one of the best players in the history of Spanish football and he’s showing this. He has amazing quality and I predict a great season for him.”
Zidane talks about his intentions and the future of Isco
Isco to stay at Madrid says Zidane
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has backed Isco to stay at Real Madrid beyond this season because he is an important first team player. Zidane has no issue with the comments the player gave about his situation in Madrid. The class of the coach is highlighted when he diplomatically handled the media who were looking for a juicy response from the coach as he said that Isco’s comments were open to interpretation. He used his experience as a top player and said that Isco is an important player and it is normal that a player of his caliber wants to play more. He went on to add that he is happy with his performances as he gives 100% always. It seems that the player will not be in trouble as we had anticipated.
In other news, Zidane also talked about his intentions of remaining as the Real Madrid boss beyond this season and has left the matter in the club’s hands. He acknowledges that his future depends on the results he produces as a coach. He does not feel tired of the pressure at all so is seeking to finish the season as strong as possible in order to prevent the sack. Real Madrid currently lying in 3rd with a 15 point gap between them and bitter rivals Barcelona. The UEFA Champions League could prove to be Zidane’s lifeline if he manages to win it and end the season with a piece of silverware to show for the board who expect a lot from their managers every season. Zidane has been at Madrid for 18 years, he knows how it works. Who thinks that the team will fight for him and defend the UEFA Champions League again this year? Do not forget to drop your thoughts in the comment section below.