Manchester City owners interested in swoop for 21-year-old Real Madrid defender | OneFootball

The City Football Group could be about to make their latest swoop on Real Madrid talent, following on from a succession of names moving to La Liga’s Girona.

It is the latest move in a string of pursuits of rising talents from across the global game, as both Manchester City and the City Football Group look to remain ahead of the chasing pack when it comes to future generations of talent.

The City Group is largely streamlined to develop talents towards Manchester City, however such is the quality within their portfolio of clubs now that players can establish hugely successful careers at the Premier League champions’ sister clubs.

Girona for example mounted a hugely positive La Liga campaign this season, challenging the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona for a first-placed position, eventually tailing off but still recording a season to be immensely proud of.

And it is Real Madrid where Girona believe one of their next highly-rated defensive talents could lie ahead of the new 2024/25 campaign.

According to the information of Marca, as translated and relayed by Get Spanish Football News, Raul Asencio looks unlikely to be promoted to Real Madrid’s senior squad and as such is gaining ‘significant interest’ from within Spain.

The 21-year-old is reportedly seeing ‘headline interest’ from the City Football Group, and would not be the first Real Madrid youngster that the portfolio’s La Liga side Girona have moved for, following on from deals for Raul Fuidias and Miguel Gutierrez.

Having started his young career with the Las Palmas youth academy, Asencio has risen through all ranks of Real Madrid’s set-up from their youth squad through to Castilla between 2017 and 2023.

Making 38 appearances across competitions for the most senior of Real Madrid’ development groups, Raul Asencio has not scored or assisted from his central defensive position, picking up eight cautions and one red card in 3,300 minutes of action.

Girona will be looking to strengthen their own squad for the forthcoming season, as the Catalan club secured European football for the first time in their history, and largely thanks to the investment and coaching standards implemented by the City Football Group.