Barcelona are reportedly set to reignite their interest in Real Madrid playmaker Isco and will be using the money from Neymar’s sale to PSG to land the Spaniard.
According to Spanish publication Don Balon, Barcelona are set to add further spice to the current transfer window after the sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain. The Catalans are set to reignite their interest in Real Madrid playmaker Isco, who is yet to sign a contract extension at Santiago Bernabeu.
Isco Alarcon was hailed as perhaps one of the most technically gifted players to emerge in Spain as he rose to prominence after joining Malaga in 2011. Two years at Malaga were enough to show the world just how prodigious the talent was and Real Madrid spent no time in recruiting the player in a big-money move.
Upon his arrival at the Bernabeu, Isco has been a regular fixture in the side. Last season, the 25-year-old racked up 30 appearances in the league alone, with 10 goals and 9 assists to his name. However, most of them came as substitute appearances.
WATCH: Sky sources: Neymar agrees 5-year-deal at PSG worth £450m, earning £515,000-a-week after tax. More on SSN. https://t.co/s0qHNyyo3g
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 2, 2017
And overall, the player would be unhappy at him being unable to lock down a regular place in the squad despite what is now four seasons of consistent displays. In fact, a portion of his 30 league appearances were largely down to Gareth Bale’s injury towards the end of the season.
Amidst all this, the 25-year-old’s contract is set to expire in a year’s time, which has seen Real Madrid scurry to get the player to commit to the club. Isco, though, has been the subject of interest of Manchester City, Barcelona and some of the other celebrated clubs in European football.
And it seems Barcelona are set to reignite their interest in the player after Neymar’s departure from the club. The Catalans are now looking to replace the Brazilian and while they have been linked with the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, Isco has re-emerged as an option.
With no rumoured movement in contract talks, Isco could be the perfect option. For one, the player could also be deployed in the midfield if Barcelona manage to land any of the aforementioned. Also, the Spaniard’s technical prowess and passing ability makes him an ideal fit in the Barcelona playing style.
Real Madrid fans have been crying out for Isco to become a regular name in the starting eleven after some inspired performances last season. And the club might face a backlash if they end up selling the player, leave alone to their direct rival in Barcelona.
The transfers between Barcelona and Real Madrid have always caused mass controversies and has been followed up by furore from the fans of the selling club. It would be interesting to see if Isco’s case turns out to be the same now that Barcelona can afford any price slapped by Real Madrid, with the windfall from Neymar’s sale.
Isco: Ramos and Casillas were the first to call me a magician when I first arrived at Real Madrid. [realmadrid tv] pic.twitter.com/2jIxs9Ylaj
— SB (@Realmadridplace) August 1, 2017
In the wake of such a disastrous transfer window, Barcelona are in need of some magic. And the little magician could be the one to bring some of his tricks to Nou Camp this summer.
