Carlo Ancelotti gives Man Utd green light to make Real Madrid transfer – “I don’t care!”

Manchester United are one of a number of clubs keeping track of Spain international Marco Asensio, whose contract at the Bernabeu expires at the end of the season

Carlo Ancelotti has given Manchester United the green light to sign Marco Asensio, admitting he doesn’t care if the player signs a new deal or leaves Real Madrid.

The Red Devils are one of a number of clubs keeping track of the Spain international, whose contract at the Bernabeu expires at the end of the season.

Asensio, who has won the Champions League three times at Real Madrid, has made 28 appearances in all competitions for Los Blancos this season and remains an important player in Ancelotti’s squad. But the Italian feels no pressure in tying him down for the next few years, admitting he’s not losing any sleep over the midfielder staying or leaving.

Ancelotti said: “He looks good to me, so I don’t know if he stays or not. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. I don’t care much. We have some important challenges this season. The most important thing is that he contributes like last year.

“Let him continue as he is doing now. Then the club makes the most appropriate decision in the end.”

Man United have been linked with a few midfielders in recent months after missing out on Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona.

The Netherlands international was put off by the fact that the Red Devils are not competing in the Champions League, but they are performing well this campaign and look set to be next season.

This could convince Asensio to jump ship in the summer should Real fail to tie him down to a new deal between now and June.

Asensio would join former teammates Raphael Varane and Casemiro who recently left Real Madrid for Man United and are enjoying themselves at Old Trafford.

Asensio was on target for Real Madrid last time out as they beat Elche 4-0 in LaLiga.

The Spaniard opened the scoring for the Spanish giants on eight minutes before Karim Benzema netted a brace and Luka Modric put the game to bed.

“It was a good game, well controlled,” Ancelotti said of the result.

“We managed the last third well, we had a lot of chances and we watched well to avoid counters. It has gone well at an important moment of the season. We need continuity in the game and the match is good for us in this sense.”