Could Real Madrid trade Isco for a better La Liga playmaker?

Real Madrid will want to find a suitable destination for Isco in the summer 2021 transfer window. Although Isco has received minutes off the bench in the last two matches against Getafe and Valencia, he is clearly playing a small role in the club and could be doing better at an individual level elsewhere. And Real could use the cash due to their interest in Galacticos Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

It may be difficult, however, to get a team to pay for Isco in this economy. Los Blancos could not find a legitimate offer this winter when Isco made it clear he wanted out, so Martin Odegaard was loaned to Arsenal and Isco kept. The next few months are something of a trial for the midfielder to possibly interested parties this summer.

We’ve heard rumors of Real using Isco to try to acquire a center back, and now Estadio Deportivo passes along word of the Andalusian attacking midfielder potentially being used to acquire Real Betis’ own playmaker Nabil Fekir (report in Spanish).

Estadio Deportivo itself says that the move is unlikely, and it’s easy to see why. Firstly, Fekir is apparently Zinedine Zidane’s idea, but the newspaper points out that this request may not matter if Zidane is not the coach next season.

Real Madrid would be better off trusting Martin Odegaard

And secondly, if the whole reason for Betis putting up their best player in Fekir for sale is to raise/save money, then why would they make a trade for another player on high wages? It wouldn’t make much sense for Los Verdiblancos. If they have to sell Fekir, then they will sell him to the highest bidder, which, of course, would not be Real Madrid.

From Real’s perspective, a move wouldn’t make sense either. Fekir is an obvious upgrade over Isco. He was one of La Liga’s best players in 2019-2020 with seven goals, four assists, and 3.1 dribbles completed per match, according to WhoScored.com. Fekir could help Real Madrid as a right winger, as he is a great left-footed playmaker.

But you know who else is a great left-footed playmaker who would be free for Los Blancos in 2021-2022? Loanee Martin Odegaard.

And like Betis, Real Madrid’s priority should be moving Isco for cash OR a player at a position of need, such as, potentially, center back.

Isco for Fekir is an interesting idea for Madridistas to think about, because Fekir is one of the best on-the-ball creative playmakers in the whole league. But this deal isn’t happening.