Zidane confirms Marco Asensio is ready to stay at Real Madrid amid Isco and James uncertainty

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has confirmed that Marco Asensio is ready to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu following his impressive pre-season with the first-team. The young playmaker was initially expected to move on loan due to the presence of James Rodriguez and Isco in his position but recent reports suggests the club are considering parting ways with the Colombian international or the Spaniard.

The Champions League winners signed the 20-year-old from Mallorca in December 2014 as a prospect for the future. He remained on loan at his former club for the second part of the 2014-2015 campaign before Real Madrid sent him to Espanyol last summer to give him a taste of life in the top flight.

The Spanish under-21 international took the most of the opportunity after scoring 4 goals and with a further 15 assists in 37 appearances for the Catalan side. Yet, his immediate future at Real Madrid still looked uncertain as the club also have the likes of Luka Modric, James and Isco in his position, with the last two eventually being restricted to a secondary role last campaign due to the presence of the 'BBC', Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos in Zidane's 4-3-3 formation.

Zidane has previously suggested that Asensio may need to go on loan once again to secure regular playing time somewhere else. However, the boss has now confirmed that the Spaniard was now ready to be a squad regular after he scored an amazing goal in the 3-2 victory over Sevilla in the Uefa Super Cup.

"He put in a complete performance, it wasn't all about the goal, which in itself was fantastic. When you give a player confidence and they respond in the best possible way, we're all happy. For a final to be a good one you need two good sides and I'm pleased," Zidane said after the game. "He's going to remain here with us. He needs to play well and today he did just that."

Zidane's endorsement came after AS reported that Real Madrid was ready to part company with Isco should a good offer arrive – while James' future also looks uncertain after the Colombian started against Sevilla on the bench despite the absence of Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Zidane failed to address the situation of the duo but was coy when asked about the potential arrival of new players, having lost Paul Pogba to Manchester United.

"We've got a big enough squad, that's for sure. If we're not able to sign anyone we've got the numbers in the squad and there are four of five who weren't here today," he said. "We've got young players and others who've got the experience. The most important thing is the group and our squad has got depth to it".

Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu in recent weeks after it emerged Zidane had identified him as an alternative to Pogba. Yet, president Florentino Perez suggests that Real Madrid may decide against signing anyone as the club already have a capable squad.

"We've got an extraordinary squad," Perez explained "We've still got to work very hard and our ambition is always to win it all. We've got a great player in every position on the pitch. Up until 31 August anything can happen, but we're really satisfied with the players that we've got. It's very difficult to improve our squad. We've got the best players in every position, as was seen at the European Championship".