Real Madrid Transfers: 3 possible destinations for Isco next season
The fixture on Saturday evening at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium may have been the final lap for a couple of Real Madrid players such as Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Lucas Vazquez, Marcelo and Isco Alarcon. It could also be Zinedine Zidane’s last fixture in charge of the club after there have been talks of the Frenchman stepping down from his post at the end of the season.
In this article, I will analyse three clubs where Isco could be heading in the summer. The 29-year-old has fallen down the pecking order over the past few seasons and has struggled with securing a prominent role in the starting eleven.
It is quite a known fact that the former Malaga midfielder has regressed and is no longer the same player that once exploited pockets of space with his skill on the ball. According to a report from MARCA, the data accumulated proves how ineffective Isco has been in the midfield for Madrid this season.
The 29-year-old has played 523 minutes this season in the league as a starter but his output in the midfield has seen Real Madrid score only two goals while conceding six. These figures look pale in comparison to when Zinedine Zidane has opted against making use of the Spaniard as the team has managed to score 47 goals in 2,137 minutes and have conceded just 16 goals without Isco’s presence.
With just one year left on his contract that expires in 2022, Real Madrid will certainly part ways with Isco this summer as the club will attempt to raise funds through player departures to fund other transfer activities. Let’s have a look at the three clubs that Isco could be playing for next season.
JUVENTUS
Could Isco head to Juventus next summer? Well, he has been linked with the Bianconeri for quite some time. Juventus plan on offloading Aaron Ramsey over the summer and Isco could be the perfect replacement for the Welshman.
Andrea Pirlo’s side have lacked creativity in the midfield and Isco could be the signing that Juve need to supply more passes to Cristiano Ronaldo in the box to convert. At the Juventus Stadium, Isco could be handed an important role but the 29-year-old could face competition from Weston McKennie and Arthur Melo.
Arthur has often played deep this season in the midfield, meanwhile, McKennie has been an excellent option off the bench for Pirlo. The American international was excellent against Barcelona at Camp Nou and even scored a spectacular acrobatic goal.
However, Isco could offer Pirlo more options in the midfield. The Spaniard does not offer the same physicality that McKennie offers in the midfield but he certainly can help in retaining and distributing possession. Isco is also press resistant and can make his way through tight spaces through the defence.
Since teams in Serie A prefer to defend deep, Isco’s ability to manoeuvre the ball through tight places and also play line splitting spaces can come in handy to unlock the opponent’s backline. The Italian league is also not as physically demanding as the Premier League so it certainly will not be a task for Isco to adapt to the demands of the league.
Juventus also love a free transfer or an affordable one as long as it is a player of a superstar status. Isco fits that tag and could be the signing for Juve to increase their merchandise and ticket sales as well.