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Featured Image Credit: Image: PA & Tony Nadal
Topics: Rafael Nadal, Tennis, Real Madrid
Josh Lawless
Record-breaking Tennis sensation Rafael Nadal played a key role in Real Madrid securing the services of Marco Asensio.
On Sunday, Nadal made history when he won his 21th Grand Slam and moved ahead of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer after coming from behind to beat world No.2 Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final.
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But while he's busy being one of the greatest tennis players ever, he still does find time on his hands to get involved in the world of football transfers, it seems.
A massive Real Madrid supporter, Nadal also has ties to local club RCD Mallorca and once had a 10 percent stake in the club along with his uncle Miguel, who played for the club as well as Barcelona.
And Nadal played a key role in a bit of business between Mallorca and Real, with a report from La Sexta claiming that after seeing a 17-year-old Marco Asensio in action, he instructed Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to snap him up.
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"Presi, you must sign this kid," Nadal told Perez.
Asensio did then join Real for a dirt cheap €3.9 million (£2.5 million) and after spending another season on loan at Mallorca, as well as a temporary stint with Espanyol the following season, has gone on to become a Real Madrid regular.
He's won two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues, scoring in the 2017 final against Juventus.
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In 2017, Asensio confirmed that Nadal was influential in him joining the 13-time European champions.
"That story is true," Asensio told Real Madrid TV.
"He called Florentino and told him to snap me up.
"That winter [2014] my agent told me that Real Madrid were interested in me. Several clubs were calling and it was a bit hectic, but one day before a game Florentino called me and said I was going to be a Real Madrid player.
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"It all happened in a single day: we went to Madrid, I signed the contract, we were shown round the [Santiago] Bernabeu and [the training ground in] Valdebebas and then we went back to Mallorca to finish the season."
Nadal was said to be a promising footballer as a youngster but ultimately chose tennis over football in a decision that worked out rather well.