Isco has denied rumours he was the mole who's been leaking Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid teams to the press.
Spanish radio stations have been aware of Ancelotti's starting XI in recent weeks and the former Chelsea and Everton manager is reportedly trying to identify the source of the leak. As a result, Ancelotti refused to reveal his team for Real's Champions League tie against the Blues on Tuesday evening until two hours before kick-off.
Many fans believe Isco is the source of the leak because he was left out of Ancelotti's squad for the last two fixtures against Getafe and Chelsea. The Spaniard, 29, has played just 14 games this season and is set to leave the club when his contract expires in June.
Isco, however, has denied the rumours. After being accused by an anonymous supporter on Twitter, he replied with a laughing emoji: "Isco is not [the mole], since I am not summoned and I have not attended the technical talk, to send hate elsewhere! SAD."
Isco has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs in recent months, including Tottenham, Newcastle, West Ham, Liverpool and Arsenal. The Gunners were reportedly interested in signing the midfielder in January, yet nothing materialised.
Despite his recent woes, the playmaker has enjoyed an excellent career in Spain. Isco has made 350 appearances for Real, winning two La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, the Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup.
Which club should sign Isco? Let us know in the comments below!
Isco, who was named Golden Boy in 2012, has also achieved success with Spain - winning the U21 Euros in 2013 and featuring at the World Cup in 2018. Yet his international career has stalled in recent years, picking up the last of his 38 senior caps in 2019.
Speaking in December 2020, Arsenal fan Darren Bent - who played for Tottenham - urged his boyhood club to sign Isco. "I think it would be a good signing," Bent told talkSPORT. "Someone like Isco may raise the dressing room.
"The quality, his creative nature, the front players will enjoy playing with him. You can never have enough good players and Arsenal need them so Isco would be a superb signing."
The following month, however, former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell told Mikel Arteta to forget signing Isco. "Well Emile Smith Rowe's been creative - [Bukayo] Saka's been creative - so I’m not sure where Isco would fit," Campbell told Football Insider.
"He’s s a gifted player, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not someone who’ll pick the ball up and go past people. He’s a technical operator. You need to be playing half-decent to get the best out of him. I’ve seen him a lot and when you play well, he tends to play well.
"But he’s not someone who takes the game by the scruff of the neck. I might be wrong, but there are other players I think they should go for."
