Marco Asensio, the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, found himself at the center of a controversy in Türkiye following the 6-0 defeat against Birmingham City at Villa Park. The defeat, which occurred on Wednesday evening, sparked an angry reaction from the Spaniard, who refused to participate in the away match. According to Turkish sources, Asensio was not among the players who traveled to England, as he reportedly reacted with frustration to being left off the bench for the match.
Fenerbahçe sporting director Oğuz Çetin attempted to convince Asensio to follow the team anyway and accept the reserve role, but the player decided not to take part in the trip with the rest of the group. The decision was made shortly after his return to action, after suffering a break of around three weeks due to a thigh muscle problem. Asensio returned to play the weekend before the defeat against Birmingham, playing an hour in the Super Lig and scoring a goal.
The case raises questions about the relationship between Asensio and coach İsmail Kartal, as well as the club's future decisions. It is not yet clear whether the episode will have repercussions on the player's role within the team or whether the club will adopt disciplinary measures. Fenerbahçe will have to manage the situation carefully, as the defeat against Birmingham has already highlighted the fragility of the team in the European phase.
The Turkish club, who suffered a heavy defeat against Birmingham, will now have to decide how to proceed with Asensio. The player, who has shown a positive return to action following his injury break, may face a more rigorous evaluation from the coaching staff. Asensio's future within Fenerbahçe remains uncertain, and management of the situation will be crucial to the stability of the club and the relationship between player and manager.