Real Madrid daily round-up: Isco, James, Zidane…
Isco dismisses talk of a January move while Zidane’s squad prepare to face Betis without a number of key players.
Isco isn’t going anywhere in January
The out-of-favour midfielder’s father Paco Alarcón told the press yesterday that his son wouldn’t be leaving the Santiago Bernabéu in the winter transfer window despite being stuck on the bench.
“I can assure you that we won’t consider any offer until next summer,” he said.
Final training session before Betis clash
Zidane’s squad trained on Friday morning at Valdebebas ahead of Saturday night’s visit to Betis (20:45 CEST). James trained apart from the squad and won’t feature.
All in all Zidane has just 19 fit first-team players, with Casemiro, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric still out. The squad leaves for Seville tomorrow morning at 10:30 CEST.
A Cultural visit in the Copa del Rey
Real Madrid drew Segunda B side Cultural Leonesa in Friday morning's Copa del Rey 4th round draw. For a full recap of the draw, click here.
Vincent Thill in Zidane’s sights?
Metz’s 16 year-old wonder kid Vincent Thill is reportedly a target for Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, according to the player’s agent Didier Philippe.
“Yes, Vincent is on Real Madrid’s agenda and there are scouting reports on Zidane's table” he told the press yesterday. “What I cannot confirm is whether or not there has been a call.”
Thill has already won six caps for Luxembourg and scored his debut goal against Nigeria.
Happy birthday, Raymond Kopa!
Real Madrid’s legendary French ‘inside right’ Raymond Kopa turned 85 yesterday.
Kopa, who played alongside Alfredo Di Stéfano in the club’s iconic European Cup-winning teams, scored 30 goals for the club in 103 appearances between 1956 and 1959.