Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane wants to keep hold of their star midfielder Isco for “his whole life” and is reluctant to let him leave at the end of the current campaign. The Spaniard was brilliant when Los Blancos won the La Liga and the Champions League titles last season but has struggled so far in this campaign. Isco has been a sporadic feature in Zidane’s first-team with the club going through a domestic turmoil. The 25-year-old came off the bench to find the back of the net in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Levante, but his limited starts this term have led to strong speculation linking him with a move away from the Spanish capital.
A whole host of Premier League clubs are monitoring his situation at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium which includes the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea. In an interview ahead of Saturday’s match with Real Sociedad, Zidane was quoted to have said,
“I’m glad you’ve asked me. I was asked before [during the January transfer window] why weren’t we going to sign anyone.
“I said I’ve always believed in my team and I will do until the very end. When I start something I get involved, I believe where I’m going, what I should be doing and I back the people I’m working with.
“Isco’s one of them. He a very good footballer. He’s proven that in the past and will do that again.
“I want Isco [in my team] and I want him to spend his whole life here.
“It’s a lie that I want Isco to be sold in the summer. Hopefully, we won’t hear any more of this.”
Real Madrid are currently sitting in 4th place in the La Liga standings, a staggering 17 points behind their rivals and league leaders Barcelona. Zinedine Zidane’s side are in dire need of reinforcements in the summer but keeping hold of their star players could turn out to be the most important piece of business for the club during the off-season. Isco can be considered as one of the stars in the Galacticos squad and his departure could significantly weaken the club going into the new campaign as they try to bridge the gap between themselves and Barcelona in the coming years.
The Spaniard has made 32 appearances for the reigning European champions this term, scoring 7 goals and providing 6 assists across all competitions. It remains to be seen if Zidane is determined enough to keep hold of his prized asset at the Santiago Bernabeu for years to come as they look to rebuild for a bigger and better future at the Spanish capital.
