What next for Real Madrid starlet Asensio as Espanyol loan comes to an end?
Asensio quedate. That was the popular chant on the terraces at Cornella-El Prat on Sunday as Espanyol closed an up, down, but ultimately disappointing campaign with a 4-2 win over Eibar.
One player whose season cannot be quantified as disappointing, though, is Marco Asensio. He scored two goals in the win over Eibar and created another in what is likely to prove his final game for the Pericos. It's little wonder they want him to stay. Asensio quedate.
The 20-year-old joined Madrid from Mallorca in 2015 for 3.7 million euros, multiplying his salary by 20, but still finishing the season in La Segunda with his home island club before heading to the Spanish capital for pre-season with Los Blancos.
However, with James Rodriguez and Isco in town, it was deemed he would not get enough minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. With the benefit of hindsight, he may actually have ended up with more than his fair share.
There was no shortage of suitors when it became clear he was available on the loan market. Born to a Dutch mother, whose death in 2011 came as a huge blow to the teenage Asensio, he speaks five languages (Spanish, Catalan, English, German and Dutch) and had over 20 offers last summer from a number of teams spread across Europe.
Espanyol were the team that prevailed, landing him on a season long loan. They were perhaps boosted in their efforts by their dealings with Madrid earlier in the transfer window - they had sold them both Kiko Casilla and Lucas Vazquez.
It's been a successful move for all three parties. While Madrid may have benefitted from his presence this season more than they realised, they will no doubt be happy with the 33 league games he's started for the Barcelona club.
Four goals and 10 assists mean Espanyol fans have certainly enjoyed one of Spain's most prodigious talents, too. And not just Espanyol fans, but rival supporters as well. After a hat-trick of assists at Real Betis earlier this season, he was given a standing ovation by the Benito Villamarin crowd when he was substituted towards the end of the game.
Speaking after Sunday's win over Eibar, Asensio was very careful when asked about his future: "Nothing has been decided. My intention is to return to Madrid and after that we will see what happens in the futrure.
"We will look at all the options we have on the table and then we will decide. If Espanyol is the first option? I don't know. When I have to decide, we will see."
His words were evasive. He clearly would prefer to play for Madrid, so the first move will have to be made by them. Based on his performances this season, there's no reason he can't find a place in Zinedine Zidane's squad.
But if not Madrid, then what? Despite their good relations with Espanyol, the 10-time European champions would probably prefer to see Asensio take a step forward. Valencia and Villarreal have been mentioned and a season with either of them would perhaps be viewed as a more progressive option than one more year in Cornella.
Wherever he ends up, it's going to be exciting to see how a midfielder who mixes technique with a drive and directness not always common in Spanish players continues to develop. Asensio quedate? Probably not.
