Isco
Isco has called for an extension to his Real Madrid contract after carving out a first-team place with the Spanish and European champions.
The 25-year-old playmaker started ahead of Gareth Bale in Saturday’s Champions League final win over Juventus and has become a regular feature in Zinedine Zidane’s all-conquering side.
Now, despite previous interest from the likes of Juve, Manchester City and Liverpool, Isco wants to stay in the Spanish capital for the foreseeable future.
A new five-year deal has been mooted for the Spain international, whose current contract has just a year left to run, and he now hopes for fresh talks as soon as possible.
‘My contract? I hope to renew soon and there’s no better place to play football than Madrid,’ Isco told Antena 3 after Saturday’s final.
Having featured in all-but four of Real’s games since the end of February, Isco was preferred to record-signing Bale against Juve and played 82 minutes before being substituted.
In winning the Champions League for the second season running, and taking home the domestic La Liga title for the first time since 2012, this has been the most successful season of his career – and Real’s of the last decade.
‘If I knew that things would end like this, I’d take it every season,’ Isco said.
‘It’s Madrid’s third Champions League in four years and my third as a professional. I could’ve never dreamt of this, but it’s thanks to this family, who made it easier.
‘The first half was much more difficult against a great team in all aspects. In the second half, we saw the best Madrid performance of the entire season.’
