Irresistible Isco creates a selection dilemma ahead of El Clásico
With the BBC available and Isco in the form of his life, Zinedine Zidane faces a tough decision ahead of the Spanish Super Cup. His contract renewal is imminent.
Isco’s rich vein of form has opened a debate regarding who will start for Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday. Coach Zinedine Zidane has an enviable selection dilemma ahead of the match against Barcelona at Camp Nou.
Isco dazzled in United victory
The Andalusian playmaker won the Man of the Match award in Los Blancos’ UEFA Super Cup victory over Manchester United in Skopje, continuing the insatiable form that he showed towards the end of the 2016/17 season.
Luka Modric will not be available on Sunday as a result of a curious three-year-old ban. Presumably, his Croatian compatriot Mateo Kovacic will play his role. Yet team selection in attack is a cloudier matter.
Zidane will have to decide whether to select the previously non-negotiable ‘BBC’ combination of Bale, Benzema, and Cristiano, or leave Isco on the bench as he enjoys the best spell of his career.
Isco played 2,339 minutes during Real Madrid’s fruitful 2016/17 campaign, 42.8% of the total available. Yet he became a decisive figure at the end of the season, playing 238 minutes (of a possible 270) in the semi-final and final of the Champions League.
The former-Málaga man also started Madrid’s two final LaLiga matches, in which the club secured their first league title since 2012. Despite the return of the BBC, Isco will hope that he has shown enough to retain his place in the side.
Isco will sign Madrid contract until 2022
Real Madrid are yet to officially announce the extension of Isco’s contract. His current deal expires in June 2018, in ten months’ time. Both parties have reached an agreement; it just needs to be made official.
Isco will remain at the Bernabéu until 2022, and the club may announce the news ahead of the Spanish Super Cup opener on Sunday.
