Asensio follows in Raul's footsteps

Posted Tuesday, June 20, 2017 by Marca.com

It is inevitable that comparisons are being made between Marco Asensio and Raul, given the early explosion in the career of the Real Madrid youngster.

Daring, brave, hungry and eager to show his ability off to the world, the Mallorca native seems set to embark on the path that one of the greatest players in Spanish football once did.

When Raul made his debut with Real's senior side on October 29, 1994, Asensio hadn't even been born and was still yet to enter the world when Raul scored a hat-trick against Macedonia's Under-21 side in November 1995.

Asensio follows in Raul's footsteps

Twenty-two years on, Asensio repeated that feat when he too scored three times at that level against Macedonia himself.

Raul's three-goal salvo in the Under-21 European Championship qualification clash was proof of how bright his future in the game was and was his second hat-trick in the space of a month, having also managed one in the Champions League against Ferencvaros.

Asensio is also having a big impact in that competition at his own young age and his goal in the Champions League final against Juventus was the perfect finishing touch to a fantastic season at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

It was a dream debut campaign for him that started with a fine 21st minute goal against Sevilla in the European Super Cup which announced his arrival to the world.

He is no longer a stranger to the public after an impressive campaign and he may be Spain's next great hope for a Ballon d'Or win in the future, an honour that escaped Raul (who also scored a Champions League final goal before his 22nd birthday) in his own career.

The next challenge that awaits Asensio is to help Spain follow in the footsteps of Isco, Alvaro Morata and Thiago's generation at the Under-21 European Championship.

Repeating what his friend and teammate Isco managed would give him a great boost ahead of his second season in the Spanish capital as he looks to nail down a starting spot with Los Blancos.

For the remainder of the European Championship, he will be looking to continue his fantastic form and show just why he is regarded so highly.