The Spanish playmaker has been given new a new lease of life in Seville, 18 months after leaving the Spanish capital
Twelve months ago, Isco was about to be released. The former Real Madrid playmaker was enduring a miserable spell at Sevilla, and after allegedly getting into a physical fight with then-football director Monchi in the club offices, his time at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan was always going to come to an end.
It marked a low point for a player once considered one of the world's best creative midfielders, and a fulcrum of a number of Champions League-winning Madrid sides. Indeed, the same man who led Los Blancos to their 2017 European crown was out of a job.
But now, things have changed. After over half a year without a club, Isco has worked his way back. He spurned two offers from overseas to stay in La Liga, joining Sevilla's city rivals, and reviving a career that once seemed to be breaking down. These days, he's a reborn star at Real Betis, a high-calibre creative threat, who is leading a rejuvenated Betis side's push for European football — and he will hope to snatch an unlikely result against his former employers on Saturday.
Getty ImagesThe Madrid exit
Isco was supposed to be the next great Madrid midfielder. And for a while, he was. Carlo Ancelotti bought him from Malaga in 2013 — his first signing for the club — and worked him into a star-studded midfield. There were questions about his fit for some time, but Madridistas were impressed by his technical ability and knack for scoring big goals. It was his performance — not Cristiano Ronaldo's — that led Madrid to the 2017 Champions League win. He was subsequently offered a lucrative contract extension, complete with an eye-watering €700 million (£619m/ $762m) release clause. And although he saw his opportunities curbed the following year, he still started the 2018 final win over Liverpool.
But a succession of managers found it increasingly difficult to get the Spaniard into the side. Even as others moved on, first Vinicius Jr and then Federico Valverde kept Isco permanently out of the line-up. That none of a host of coaches, including Zinedine Zidane, incorporated his preferred No.10 role also didn't help. He ignored a public plea from Marcelo to adapt and work harder in training, while Ancelotti's return did him no favours. By 2022 it became clear that his time at the club was up.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhat went wrong at Sevilla?
Monchi, if rumours are to be believed, never wanted Isco. Julen Lopetegui had taken the job at Sevilla when Isco's Madrid career was winding down, and when it became clear that the midfielder would be available on a free, he made him a priority target. He turned down more money — and potential Champions League football — from elsewhere in order to stay in his homeland. Lopetegui, in return, made Isco the lynchpin of his side.
Sevilla, though, were miserable for the opening two months of the season. They won one of their first 10 games, and Lopetegui could have few complaints when he was removed from the job in October. Jorge Sampaoli came in next, and although he got Isco in his XI, poor form — and an unwillingness to adapt to a different role — saw the midfielder phased out.
And then, the fight. Monchi and Isco had been feuding for some time. They exchanged words on the training pitch in early December. There are two different versions of this narrative; Isco claims that the sporting director physically assaulted him in his office. Monchi has rubbished Isco's allegations. His departure as a free agent wasn't a surprise.
Getty ImagesTraining at home for months
But there was still hope for Isco's career — at least at that point. After all, here was a Spain international with five Champions League winner's medals and two magical feet. Isco, at first, had offers from a number of clubs. MLS was reportedly a priority, but no North American team made a serious bid, according to .
Union Berlin, surging in the Bundesliga at the time, were the only team to reach out in earnest, and the two sides came to a verbal agreement on deadline day. But it fell through after "the conditions had changed". The midfielder wanted to play in Europe, and Union Berlin were in the Europa League. But UEFA rules prevented him from appearing for two teams in the same competition. The main selling point of the deal was gone, and he was left without a club.
So, from February on, Isco was left at home, training in his own personal gym.
"They are hard moments, because in the end you are used to the dynamic, being in a team and competing, so when it stops being that way you feel like you are missing something," he would later admit.
Saudi Arabia called, so too did an Italian side. But staying in La Liga was always the goal.
Betis TwitterBetis give him a chance
It took two minutes to sort everything with Betis. Isco and now-manager Manuel Pellegrini got on the phone, after getting backing from the club's sporting director, according to . The two developed a relationship in Isco's Malaga days, and with the terms of the contract sorted, Pellegrini was confident that he had his man.
“From the moment I spoke to him I was sure we were going to find the Isco of the past and the player we needed to create chances," Pellegrini said in a press conference.
And his faith was rewarded. Isco showed up in Seville a changed man from the one that left Sevilla six months before. Fitter, sharper, and more willing to adapt, he was in the Betis XI from day one. And there was a real need for him. Betis had lost veteran creative player Joaquin Sanchez, who hung his boots up at 41; Sergio Canales had moved to Liga MX side Monterrey, and Nabil Fekir – who once promised so much – was out with a knee injury. They needed someone to pull the strings.
Isco himself has admitted that he made the right decision. His reluctance to accept both Saudi money and other European opportunities less than 12 months ago was met with puzzlement by those with eyes on the relentless rumour mill. Now, it seems, he is vindicated.
"In the end, I was out of action for some time, went some time without playing and I came here to face a nice challenge with the confidence of the club and the coach," he said in a press conference. "For now, things are going well. I’m proving to myself that I still have football in me. I’m enjoying it, which is what I wanted, and I hope both Betis and I have a spectacular season.”