Real Madrid: Has Isco chosen his next destination?

Real Madrid, Isco (Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Real Madrid, Isco (Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Isco could be out on his way from Real Madrid next summer.

With the winter transfer window around the corner, the transfer rumours have started to swirl around. Real Madrid are always one of the most talked-about teams due to the star power in the dressing room. Not all players can be happy in such a big squad and that is exactly what has been happening with attacking midfielder Isco, who finds himself on the periphery under Zidane, a coach who gave Isco the opportunity to run the show in Europe four years ago.

According to a new report from AS, by Tomás Roncero, Isco has chosen his new destination, and that is Andalusian side Sevilla, managed by former Real Madrid and Spain coach Julen Lopetegui. Lopetegui served as a mentor to Isco, always believing in his abilities. Lopetegui was the very reason Isco was a star of the Spanish National Team, running the opposition ragged. Isco’s best performance at the international level came against Italy, under the tutelage of Julen Lopetegui.

The report further states that Isco could leave Real Madrid for a fee of around €15-20 million, a figure that could turn out to be a bargain for Sevilla since Isco can undoubtedly bring so much to the table, not to forget that he is still on the right side of his thirties – he will turn 29 by the end of this season.

The catch, however, lies in the fact that Zinedine Zidane wants the same squad to challenge for all titles during the second half of the season. And that would require Zidane to use each and every player of the squad, even Isco. In such a scenario, ruling out a turnaround in Isco’s fortunes would be premature.

Isco’s downfall began in the 2018-19 season, when he had a feud with the-then manager Santiago Solari, finding himself out of the squad plans. From being the artist of Real Madrid’s back-to-back UEFA Champions League wins to becoming a secluded figure by the time Zidane re-signed for the manager’s role in March 2019, Isco’s career had already taken quite an unusual route.

Zidane hasn’t used Isco much this season, and all signs point towards an unceremonious exit for the Spaniard. Only time can tell if Isco can revive his Real Madrid career in the first half of 2021.