A REAL MADRID legend is continuing to enjoy an incredible career resurgence.
Step forward forgotten five-time Champions League winner Isco.
This 32-year-old winger has been capped 38 times by Spain and has a host of medals in his collection.
However, last year he spent five months unemployed after a transfer move turned into a nightmare.
But now he is back to his best and is hoping to reward Real Betis for giving him another chance by securing them a top six finish in LaLiga.
Isco started out at Valencia but his breakthrough came at Malaga following a switch there in 2011.
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It was his impressive displays over the next two years there that eventually earned him a dream move to Real Madrid.
He went on to spend nine years at the Bernabeu and lifted Europe’s biggest prize five times as well as LaLiga on three occasions.
The ace played over 250 times for Los Blancos and scored 37 goals as well as winning four Fifa Club World Cups, three Uefa Super Cups, a trio of Spanish Super Cups and a Copa del Rey.
But, after making just 14 LaLiga appearances in his final season, Isco was released when his contract expired in June 2022.
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Naturally, there were a host of teams chasing Isco’s signature from across the continent which allowed him to have his pick of clubs.
It was eventually Sevilla that won the race for his signature in a move that saw him link up with former Spain and Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui – but it soon emerged that transfer chief Monchi was not as much of a fan of the player.
Just four months and 19 appearances later, Isco was heading for the exit door.
Monchi publicly claimed that the attacking midfielder wanted to leave, only for the player himself to deny this in an explosive interview where he revealed that he and the chief, who now works for Aston Villa, even came to physical blows.
Isco was unemployed for nearly six months after a transfer to Union Berlin collapsed during the January 2023 window.
The player was linked with a move to the Premier League as both Arsenal and Tottenham were keen but he penned a contract with Sevilla’s bitter rivals Real Betis instead last summer – and he has returned to top form since.
Isco has scored eight goals and provided five assists so far in his 28 top-flight appearances so far for Betis.
But even more impressive that those stats is the amount of man of the match awards he has received.
Isco, who got on the scoresheet, was picked as the star performer in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Almeria.
Amazingly, that was his 19th man of the match award from his 28 matches this term.
We revealed previously that Isco’s contract was initially valid until June 2025, but it has now been extended until 2026 after he triggered the additional 12 months by making 25 appearances.
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However, that deal also includes a release clause for just a bargain £8.6m.
That could lead to a host of top teams queuing up again to try and snap him up for that reduced fee thanks to his rich vein of form.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
