While Pep Guardiola might have liked a few of Real Madrid’s players during his time at Barcelona, he was never going to get them while in charge of their arch rivals.
Now at Manchester City, he can do what he wants, within reason, and players such as Isco could be valuable recruits for his project at the Etihad.
This is, at least, what Diario Gol were reporting on Monday when they published an article claiming that the Spanish attacking midfielder has an offer from Pep Guardiola’s current club on the table, as well as from two other Premier League clubs, which his entourage are using as pressure to get him a new contract at the Bernabeú.
Finding his feet under Zinedine Zidane, the Spaniard was a starter against Barcelona at the weekend, which would have been unimaginable at the start of the season, when all he was was a glorified rotation player.
Diario Gol claim the French manager would prefer to keep the player in Madrid, even if Florentino Pérez was prepared to sell him for €40m in the summer, a fee City would have no problem in paying were they to decide they need him.
Things have changed a fair bit over the past few months, and that contract renewal Isco so dearly wants could be on its way.
Partly thanks to Manchester City.
