Kosovare Asllani Offers Real Madrid Femenino the Star Quality to Kickstart Their Brand
By Ali Rampling
Real Madrid's women's team - Real Madrid Femenino - were officially launched ahead of the 2020/21 season.
Similarly to Manchester United, Real were a little bit late to the women's football party (can forming 32 years after the creation of the Primera Division de la Liga de Futbol Femenino still be classed as 'fashionably late'?) - but just like the Red Devils, their blockbuster brand carries lofty expectations even during their fledgling season.
The parallels between United and Real continue with their recruitment ahead of their maiden campaign. Casey Stoney's side targeted homegrown talent, and likewise the Real squad consists of a homegrown core.
But unlike the Red Devils, Real were thrust straight into the top flight, and as a result were able to attract one individual of world class quality.
Kosovare Asllani was the club's headline signing when she arrived at CD Tacon - the club that Real would later take over - in 2019, alongside international teammate Sofia Jakobsson.
Within four games this season the Sweden attacking midfielder has already demonstrated that she has the ability to shoulder the club's expectations and kickstart Real's women's football brand.
Asllani is a player of real international pedigree. Branded the 'Female Zlatan' - which, given the Milan striker's history with the women's game we bet is a comparison he's thrilled about - the 31-year-old has 143 caps for her country and was an integral part of the Sweden side that reached the semi finals of the 2019 World Cup.
She is a Ballon d'Or nominee, an Olympic silver medalist and has won titles in England and Sweden. Despite being presented with the opportunity to play Champions League football after leaving Linköpings at the end of the 2018/19 campaign, Asllani turned down these down in favour of the lure of Real.
The chance to help lay the foundations for women's football at the Spanish giants and establish Real as a force to be reckoned with across Europe was too good of a chance to turn down - and Real bagged themselves an absolute coup.
Asllani has instantly proved her worth this term, netting the first goal in the club's history during their 1-1 draw with Valencia, doubling her tally for the season during Real's maiden victory - a 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano - and grabbing a brace as her side ran out 3-0 victors over Deportivo.
The Sweden international has netted 57% of Real's goals thus far this season, taking her tally to four in four games.
Such is the stature of the club, Real will have ambitions of going toe to toe with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Primera Division summit. They were comfortably beaten in women's football's first El Clasico, slipping to a 4-0 defeat on the opening day of the season.
But with Asllani's quality, current form and profile, they have the potential to challenge the highflying pair both on the pitch and off it.