Zinedine Zidane has already managed to solve one of the problems facing the Real Madrid dressing room: Isco’s concerns and his strong desire to leave the club.
Juventus had made a serious offer to lure Isco away and the latter had made his mind up to leave given the few chances Rafa Benítez had given him to play.
The Italian club tried to sign the young attacking midfielder last summer but the deal fell through when Real Madrid decided he wasn’t for sale. At that time Isco wasn’t particularly taken by the idea either. This situation has changed in recent months, to the point that the player was seriously considering an exit.
Troubled by his lack of playing time on the pitch and concerned that this situation was more the result of personal rather than sporting considerations, Isco went so far as to ask Real Madrid to accept Juventus’s bid. The Italian club, for their part, contacted the offices at the Santiago Bernabéu to table a deal for the player, who would also have listened to Manchester City’s offer for his services, the English club having shown an interest for the last three years. Both clubs were willing to cough up 25 million euros on the spot.
In spite of all this neither one of Isco’s potential suitors got their man as Zidane nipped it in the bud. One of the first things he did on taking over at the club was to nail the lid shut on any talk of an Isco transfer deal. “He’s not for sale,” the new coach told the Real Madrid suits, who are delighted that the Frenchman is taking decisions and has got through to a player who is considered a real asset.
Isco, who was furious with Benítez for putting him in the situation he was in, has put paid to any doubts regarding his future. He still knows that getting into the starting line-up won’t be easy on account of the BBC, but he is going to make it very hard for Zizou to leave him on the bench.
Bron : Marca
