Marco Asensio says he 'didn't care' about Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona

Marco Asensio insists he 'didn't care' whether Lionel Messi left Barcelona last summer, despite Real Madrid's bitter rivalry with the Catalan giants.

Messi pushed for a move to Manchester City after becoming frustrated with life at the Nou Camp under president Josep Bartomeu and the current board.

Barca's embarrassing 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals was also a major factor, with the Argentine eyeing up a fresh start in the Premier League.

However, after Bartomeu refused to allow his star man to walk away for free, Messi announced his intention to stay for the final year of his contract.

Asensio, who will likely come up against the six-time Ballon d'Or winner in El Clasico this season, says he wasn't fussed whether Barca lost their talisman or not.

'I didn't care if Messi left or stayed,' he told El Transistor.

'That he stayed will be better for Barcelona; I like playing against the best.'

Asensio's focus is on earning a regular spot under manager Zinedine Zidane, having been restricted to just nine LaLiga appearances due to a cruciate knee ligament injury last season.

'Of course I would like to be in the starting XI and play, but that is up to the coach,' he said.

'I feel just as good, if not better, than before the injury.

'I have always felt a lot of pressure, I understand that people expect a lot from me and what I want is to justify that faith with titles for Real Madrid.'