Asenjo candidate to be back-up for Valdés

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona is seriously interested in Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19). The player has already been watched by Barcelona scouts three times this season (read more here).

Asked about the rumours, the player's agent Fernando Redondo is quoted as confirming the interest of Barcelona: "Asenjo is followed by Zaragoza, AC Milan, Manchester United and indeed also Barcelona. No official bid has been launched until this moment."

Barcelona would be looking for a young goalkeeper with a great future who should for now act as back-up for Víctor Valdés. Asenjo, who has a contract with Real Valldolid until the summer of 2011 and a buyout clause of 5,5 million euro°, would prefer to join a Spanish club where he can be the number one.

Asked about the rumours linking him with several clubs aongst which Barcelona, Asenjo said yesterday at a press conference that this is an extra motivation for him: "If it's true that teams like that are interested in me, it means I'm doing a good job. Personally I haven't been informed by the club or my representatives, I only know what I read in the press. It's an additional motivation to work hard and get better.

Until december I don't want to think about it. Then we can make a decision although my first option is to stay. At this moment I'm focused on Valladolid and the game we will play this weekend. Last summer I already had the chance to leave but I preferred to look at more things than only the financial side. At nineteen, you cannot ask more than the chance to play in the Liga."

Read more:
Barcelona closely following Asenjo
Looking for a goal keeper
Valladolid goalkeeper Asenjo monitored


Watch a video of Asenjo: