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Scouting Report: Isco
- Updated: November 1, 2016
Real Madrid midfielder Isco has found game-time hard to come by at the Bernabeu since Zinedine Zidane took the reins in January, with Tottenham reportedly set to offer him a way out of Madrid.
Zidane favours a 4-3-3 system and seems to have his midfield trio set in stone; Luka Modric and Toni Kroos tend to start whenever fit while Casemiro operates behind as the defensive anchor.
Any temptation the Spain international had to play out wide has been thwarted by Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently occupy those roles. So, despite Isco’s undoubted talent, breaking into Zidane’s starting XI is proving a difficult task.
Isco was signed by Madrid from Malaga in 2013 for €30m (£26.9m). The Spanish giants had to fend off stiff competition from Manchester City to acquire the youngster after a string of eye-catching performances during Spain’s victorious European Under-21 Championship saw him named the Golden Boy in 2012.
Isco enjoy a prominent role during his first two season at the Bernabeu, but the 24-year-old has since fallen out of favour. A lack of first-team action last season led to his omission from Vicente del Bosque’s 23-man Euro 2016 squad this summer.
The snub, coupled with his continued spell on the periphery of Zidane’s thoughts, led Isco to admit he may have to leave Real if his first-team prospects do not improve.
“I have been two months, practically, without playing,” he told Spanish newspaper Marca. “It’s difficult when you’re training well and the boss does not put you in.
“I am not going to give in easily. I know I will be a success. I don’t know if that will be with Madrid – I hope so. But if not, I will be a success somewhere else.”
An injury to former Spurs midfielder Modric has seen Isco step into the starting XI on a temporary basis, and he has not disappointed.
The 6-1 win away to Real Betis a fortnight ago – during which he scored twice and completed 89 per cent of his passes – was the first time he played 90 minutes since April.
This performance saw him retain his place the following week against Athletic Bilbao, with Isco again showing what capable of by …
