After approximately 7 months without competing, Isco Alarcón will play for Real Betis this season. At the request of Manuel Pellegrini, the player from Málaga signed for the Sevillian club in an express deal that coincided with the departure of Canales to Rayados de Monterrey in Mexico.
The transfer brings with it a lot of morbidity. Everyone knows about the rivalry between Sevilla FC, Isco’s last club, and Real Betis. In addition, and as if that was not enough, we have to add the way in which the player from Arroyo de la Miel left Nervion, in a short period full of conflicts. He left being heavily criticised for his lack of commitment and poor performance.
However, the most striking aspect of his time with the red and white club was his clash with Monchi: “I told him he was the biggest liar I had ever come across in the world of football and he attacked me. He came towards me, grabbed me by the neck, we moved away from each other and they had to separate us completely. As you can understand, after that, I didn’t want to continue there under any circumstances”. This was what Isco said in an interview he gave a few weeks ago to Marca, breaking his silence after several years.
Isco has surely taken this into account and has chosen the Villamarín as the ideal destination to prove himself, be successful and silence the haters. All backed and with the confidence of being chosen by Manuel Pellegrini, the coach who made him known to the footballing world and who managed him for two seasons in what was the best period in the history of Málaga CF, with Isco as their star.
It could well be said that the confidence and prominence that the Chilean gave him served as a springboard for him to arrive at Real Madrid and be recognised as one of the best midfielders in the world.
The truth is that the Benalmádena’s player has been at a very low level since 2018, with hardly any minutes or confidence at Real Madrid and completely out of shape. It is a risky signing, yes, but the formation that Pellegrini uses is perfect for Isco, who could play backed up by two pivots such as Carvalho, Guido or Marc Roca, completely free in the ¾ zone, where he has performed best.
Isco passed his medical with flying colours and signed a one-year contract with Los Verdiblancos, with option for one more year, depending on his performance. His physical change is remarkable and as he has been seen in his first training sessions. Isco looks happy, fine and very hungry to face this great challenge.
As if that was not enough, it is the year of the Euros, in which Isco will be looking to vindicate himself and win back the affection and respect of the fans. It has been proven that Luis De La Fuente does not get married to anyone, and if the player born in Málaga recovers 70-80% of his top footballing level, he is better than most of the current Spanish midfielders.
A challenge with capital letters, full of morbidity in the Andalusian capital, that can give a lot to talk about in the next national call-ups if Isco manages to recover his level.
Main image: @RealBetis.
Translated by Marcos Rodríguez.
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