Isco indecision on Real Madrid future puts Guardiola on alert
Manchester City unsuccessfully tried to sign the player twice - in 2012 and 2013. Guardiola knows that Isco could leave on a free transfer in 2018. Macedonia-Spain live online
Waiting on Isco
Negotiations to renew Isco's contract continue to drag on and that has arousd the attention of a number of other clubs in Europe - and in particular Pep Guardiola's Manchester City who are keeping a close watch on how the situation evolves. Guardiola knows that the player will wait until June and it will be then when he will attempt to lure the midfielder to the Etihad with a sporting proposal, talior-measured to fit the playmaker, much in the same way he beat Madrid and Barcelona to land Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesús.
City's interest in Isco isn't new. Twice they reached a verbal agreement with the player but on both occasions, the transfer fell through. The first attempt was in the summer of 2012 when Isco's representatives agreed to pay his buy-out (22 million euros) to release him from Málaga, although that arrangement included letting him stay at La Rosaleda another year on loan. It ended up not happening as the player broke ties with his agents and renewed with Málaga. He reached another verbal agreement with City the following summer but changed his mind when Florentino Pérez called.
Second thoughts
Isco accepted Madrid's offer and joined on a 30 million euro deal, taking him to June 2018. Now he is having second thoughts about amplifying his contract and that has put his suitors on high alert. Like before, Isco would prefer to stay on at Real Madrid but he is not prepared to renew terms willy nilly without knowing what role he will play in the team under Zidane. That's why he will wait until the end of the season until making his final decision. If he fails to reach an agreement, Madrid would be left with a headache is resolving the situation.
Two options
If Isco decides not to renew by June, Madrid would have to either sell him over the summer or continue negotiating while running the risk of losing him on a free in June 2018. City are making provision for both scenarios.
In the first case City know that Isco would come relatively cheaply, and in the second option, completely free.
