Isco & Real Madrid: A Love Story Coming to an End?

Can Isco get back to Zinedine Zidane s favour? / Image via independent.co.uk

Things have not gone down the way they were expected to go after December 2012 for Francisco Roman Alcoron Suarez, commonly referred to as Isco, the Golden Boy of Spanish football.

Bright Beginnings

A product of Valencia’s youth system, Isco hit the ground running at Malaga after his 2011 move from Los Che’s B side. Having not been given enough chances to prove his worth in his parent club, Isco was eager to make his case and get under the limelight with little time wasted in between.

Commanding performances in the middle of the park for Malaga and a creative string which often made clear difference on the pitch have quickly earned Isco much desired place under the spotlights, maki…

Prediction: Norwich vs Arsenal

Prediction: Arsenal win

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The Premier League returns once again this weekend in the final set of fixtures before we officially enter the hectic December period. All teams will be forced to deal with increased scrutiny now as they attempt to navigate their way through a collection of tough fixtures in the top flight. Two such teams who have a lot of work to do, but for very different reasons, are Norwich City and Arsenal who will meet in one of the Sunday kick-offs at Carrow Road.

Norwich

Norwich s style was really fun to watch across the first few weeks of the new campaign, but it certainly seems as if the allure of it all has started to wear off just a little. From their poor defensive work to their parade of injuries, the Canar…

Grosskreutz: Gotze should leave Dortmund for Liverpool

Kevin Grosskreutz spoke to Sky Germany recently, and in doing so, he revealed that he believes Mario Gotze should leave Borussia Dortmund in the winter for the second time in order to try and revitalise his career. The 26 year old, who has played for both Dortmund and Bayern Munich in his career, has been on something of a decline for months now with some believing that he s already hit his peak in the game.

Gotze is best known for scoring the winning goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final, which ensured that Germany became world champions. In the interview Grosskreutz listed Liverpool as a potential destination for Gotze where he could go in order to try and set things straight, with his reasoning being that Jurgen Klopp knows him quite well.

Still, Gotze would do well …

Manchester City linked with Isco bid

Manchester City are eyeing a club record bid for Real Madrid midfielder Isco, according to the Mail Online.

The twenty-five year old, who has twice been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium in the past could now be willing to listen to advances of the Citizens who are steamrollering their way to the Premier League title.

He has started eighteen games in La Liga and six in the Champions League so far this season but may be allowed to leave as Zinedine Zidane looks to freshen things up in the summer.

In total he has racked up two hundred and thirty-nine appearances in all competitions since signing from Malaga in the summer of 2013, scoring thirty-nine times while he has been part of the squads that won the league in 2017, the Copa del Ray in 2014 and the …

Rasmus Hojlund says Manchester United must ‘stick together’ in ‘tough period’

Rasmus Hojlund says Manchester United must stick together if they are to emerge from a “tough period” that has put Erik ten Hag’s side under intense scrutiny and pressure.

Having won the Carabao Cup, reached the FA Cup final and finished third during the Dutchman’s first campaign in change, things have gone dramatically awry this term.

United have lost four of their opening seven matches for the first time in the Premier League era and are pointless after their first two Champions League group games.

Erik s post-match thoughts with . ||

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

There was no disgrace in the 4-3 loss at Bayern Munich a fortnight ago, but Tuesday’s 3-2 collapse at home to a Galatasaray side that had never won in England before is s…

Real Madrid increasingly confident on Rudiger deal

Real Madrid are increasingly confident about completing a deal to sign Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer from Chelsea this summer, according to a number of sources.

The defender will not make a decision, or at least, he won t announce it openly, until the end of the season out of respect for his current club. There is still a chance for him to remain at Stamford Bridge, but the present situation regarding the ownership of Chelsea makes any talks on the subject impossible at the moment.

Apart from Real Madrid, interest has reportedly come from Juventus, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain too, but the 13-time European champions are apparently closest to reaching an agreement with his representatives.

The 29-year-old centre-back, w…

BREAKING NEWS: Courtois signs new five-year contract with Real Madrid

Thibaut Courtois has signed a fresh five-year deal with Real Madrid, the club confirmed on Monday.

Madrid have allowed experienced defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane leave the club, as they look to ease financial difficulties compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Madrid have decided to secure the long-term future of goalkeeper Courtois, who has signed a deal running until June 30, 2026.

Courtois joined Madrid from Chelsea in 2018, having impressed for Belgium at the World Cup in Russia where he won the Golden Glove.

He has gone on to establish himself as Los Blancos number one after what was an initially tricky start to a second stint in LaLiga Courtois having previously played for Atletico Madrid on loan from Chelsea.

The 29-year-o…

Zenit’s Danny linked with Turkey switch

Besiktas are the latest side to have joined the race for Zenit star Danny, according to Turkish media outlet AMK.

The highly rated midfielder looks set to leave the Russian giants when his contract comes to an end in June, and he will have no shortage of offers in the summer transfer window.

According to AMK, Besiktas have been in contact with the player s representatives as they hope to lure the 31-year-old to Istanbul.

However, they could face stiff competition from league rivals Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce, who are also keen.

Even if Zenit paid staggering €30 million for Danny back in the summer of 2008, the Portuguese footballer quickly justified the price tag, proving to be one of club s best ever signings.

Danny managed impressive 57 goals…

Hoffenheim part company with Hoeness

Hoffenheim have parted company with coach Sebastian Hoeness by mutual consent.

The decision comes after Hoffenheim s dreadful end to the Bundesliga season, which they finished on a nine-game winless run.

Hoffenheim took just three points from the final 27 on offer, their last win coming at Cologne on March 6.

As a result of that streak, Hoffenheim missed out on a European spot, ending the campaign in ninth, six points behind Cologne in seventh – the Bundesliga s Europa Conference League qualification place.

Hoffenheim and Manager Sebastian have parted company by mutual agreement.

— TSG Hoffenheim EN (@tsghoffenheimEN)

Appointed before the 2020-21 season after leading Bayern Munich s reserves to the 3. Liga title, Hoeness guided Ho…

Simeone not nervous but questions Atletico´s intensity as LaLiga leaders slip up

Diego Simeone said Atletico Madrid do not feel nervous after the LaLiga leaders slipped up, though he did question his team s intensity.

Atletico suffered a costly 1-0 loss to Sevilla on Sunday, which saw their lead atop the table cut to three points, though Barcelona could close to within a solitary point if they beat Real Valladolid on Monday.

Despite Jan Oblak s penalty heroics, Atletico lost to fourth-placed Sevilla in LaLiga for the first time since 2016 following Marcos Acuna s 70th-minute header.

Atletico have won just four of nine games, having threatened to run away with the LaLiga trophy earlier in the season but pressure is mounting on Simeone s side as defending champions Real Madrid and Barca close in.

We have to keep working hard and taking…