Juve have expressed an interest in Isco. Allegri sees him as a natural successor for Andrea Pirlo, but the player is interested in staying at Madrid. Isco and Rafa Benítez spoke and this conversation has been key in the midfielders intention not to leave the club. The coach assured him of playing time and his importance in the 2015-16 team, although he didn’t guarantee that the player would start in every game. In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Isco fits into various positions. His ideal position is an attacking midfield role but he can also play on the left (as he did when playing at Málaga) or even as central midfielder. For Isco to triumph as he did under Ancelotti, the player is aware that he needs to maintain his same work ethic. Whatever happens, Isco is guaranteed to have more playing time in formation that doesn’t fall back on the ‘BBC’ (without Benzema).
Last season Isco played 3.754 minutes (more than the previous season where he featured for: 3.163’). Injury to his team mates meant that he played regularly until Croatian, Luka Modric returned from injury. When Ancelotti was forced to chose from: Kroos, Modric, James, Isco, Cristiano, Benzema and Bale, invariably it was the player from the Costa del Sol who missed out despite playing well in the first few months of 2015. Isco lost heart and only regained his confidence when Modric got injured again and he returned to regular playing.
Explanations. After elimination Atlético in the Champions League quarter final, he explained how he felt: “It took its toll on me, having to give up being a regular starter after doing so for such a long time. I wasn’t hurt but neither happy as I felt i was doing a good job”.