Sevilla have reached an agreement in principle with Isco (Benalmadena, Málaga; 30), international midfielder who was free after ending his contract with Real Madrid on June 30. From then on, Isco rang for many teams without his signing being translated by any, until Sevilla surprisingly announced his signing this Sunday morning. Isco, 30, is already in the Andalusian capital. If he passes the compulsory medical examination on Monday, he will become a new Sevilla player for the next two seasons.
Monchi, the sporting director of Sevilla, thus responds to one of the main demands of his coach, Julen Lopetegui, who wanted Isco at all costs. Lopetegui has always been Isco’s biggest supporter, to the point that he was appointed to succeed Andrés Iniesta at the last World Cup in Russia. The sporting director has overcome the reluctance aroused by the signing of a very contrasting player, although at an age which makes his revaluation very difficult. The coach’s interest no longer weighed and also the atmosphere that hangs over the team’s options this season. In the presentation match against Cádiz on Saturday, Sevilla once again offered a very flat image, which caused the fans to respond with a few whistles at the team’s performance in certain phases of the match.
Sources close to the operation tell EL PAÍS that Isco had to lower his initial economic claims to join Sevilla. Throughout this summer, Isco’s agents have explored the possibility of signing for teams like Inter, Roma or Betis, but their high monetary demands They prevented the signing from taking place. Now Sevilla have taken the final step. Lopetegui, from then on, will have a large number of players with a very similar profile, in the case of Isco himself, Lamela, Papu, Suso, Corona or even Óliver Torres. The signing of Isco is the third made by Sevilla this season after those of Marcao (12 million at Galatasaray for this Brazilian central defender) and left-back Alex Telles (on loan without an option to buy from Manchester United).
Throughout the summer, Isco trained on his own to keep in shape. Even the footballer showed off his training days on social media. Isco has a long footballing career. He rose to prominence at Malaga and in the summer of 2013 he signed for Madrid, where he won five Champions Leagues. According to the Sevilla website, he has been an international with Spain since the under-17 category. With this team, he won a bronze medal at the 2009 World Cup in Nigeria. He also participated in the U-20 World Cup in 2011 and the London Olympics in 2012 with the U-23s. With the senior team, he made his debut, under the management of Vicente del Bosque, on February 6, 2013 in a friendly match against Uruguay in Qatar. Having already made his debut, he was proclaimed European Under-21 Champion that same year 2013 in Israel. He has 38 international caps and 12 goals, as well as a European Championship, that of 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.
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