'Operation Clean' at Madrid spells the end of Isco's time with the club
Isco, who Real Madrid paid Malaga 30 million euros for in 2013, looks set to see his time at the Santiago Bernabeu come to an end.
President Florentino Perez, who pushed for his arrival, has agreed with Zinedine Zidane to include him on the list of players who will be allowed to leave the club this summer.
'Operation Clean' which is being carried out by the president is also likely to be the end of Jese Rodriguez (which may not go down well in the dressing room), Danilo, Mateo Kovacic and even James Rodriguez. It’s another problem in goal, where the agreed signing of David de Gea could see Keylor Navas or Kiko Casilla moved on.
Isco, 24, who on Tuesday was left out of Vicente del Bosque’s Spain squad, has two years left on his deal with Madrid. The club are ready to lose money on him and his future could be in the Premier League.
FUTURES ON THE LINE
The Andalusian midfielder isn’t the only player who is facing up to a transfer this summer. The club are also looking for an exit for Danilo, who joined the club last summer as the new Cafu, while Barcelona were also following his progress at Porto.
The Brazilian, though, has had a difficult season and has been forced to the bench by Dani Carvajal. Madrid, aware they won’t recover the 35 million euros they spent on him, are studying a loan move, as they did with Fabio Coentrao to Monaco this season.
James’ case is a difficult one due to the fact the club paid 80 million euros for him in 2014, which now looks like poor business. Zinedine Zidane has rarely counted on him in the big games since he took over in January and he didn’t feature in the Champions League final.
It’s a very uncomfortable situation for the Colombian. He maintains a good reputation in the Premier League and Perez, who considers his signing strategic for his business in Colombia, has accepted that he may not have a future under Zidane.
Antother player whose days are numbered is Kovacic, who was signed from Inter for 31 million euros last summer. He was brought in at the request of Rafa Benitez and since the Spanish coach left he has not played.
The Croatian, who Ariedo Braida scouted ahead of a potential Barça move, could return to Serie A, with Milan ready to sign him - albeit for a far inferior fee to that paid by Madrid.
Finally, Jese seems to have lost all the momentum he had gathered at the club under Zidane. He has hardly featured for the French coach and has one foot out the door.
Lucas Vazquez, who returned from a loan spell at Espanyol, has jumped ahead of him in the pecking order and in the manager’s plans, while his arrogant character is also not to Zidane’s taste.
