Real Madrid playmaker Isco insists he wants to stay at “the best club in the world” despite being courted by Barcelona and a host of Premier League clubs.
“I am at the best team in the world, there is no bigger team than Madrid and I feel fortunate,” Isco said. “I want to stay here for a long time.”
The 24-year-old is out of contract at the end of next season which has reportedly sparked the interest of Madrid’s rivals Barca.
Photo: AFP
And despite 10 goals in all competitions this season Isco remains a fringe player, with coach Zinedine Zidane preferring a midfield three of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
“You know what I think of Isco, he is a player I like a lot and his place is here,” Zidane said. “There are 24 players and it will always be unfair for those that don’t play.”
“That is the difficult part of this job, leaving very good players on the bench,” Zidane added.
Isco was one of nine changes Zidane made to his starting line-up with the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich on Tuesday in mind.
However, even without the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, Real for the umpteenth time this season found a late winner to remain on course for a first La Liga title in five years.
And Zidane rejected suggestions Real have got lucky with their late shows this season.
“There is no such thing as luck in football, it is down to hard work and effort in every game,” he said. “You have to make your own luck. With the team we have we can cause damage to any team.”
“It is in our DNA to fight until the end at Real Madrid and today we pulled it off,” Zidane added.
Isco also hailed Madrid’s DNA to fight till the end, but accepted the European champions made life difficult for themselves against relegation threatened Sporting.
“We didn’t control the game like we should have,” he said. “They went ahead on two occasions, but this is the spirit of Real Madrid and we have shown it once more.”
“It is in the DNA of this shirt and this badge, we have shown it so many times and again today. Until the referee blows the full-time whistle it is not over,” Isco said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and