City hopeful of sealing £21m swoop for Isco as midfielder gets ready to snub Real Madrid
Posted Friday, June 21, 2013 by
Manchester City hope to complete a £21million deal for Malaga midfielder Isco in the next 48 hours.
There were fears Real Madrid could hijack the transfer, and City were said to have grown increasingly concerned that the player seemed undecided.
But the 21-year-old looks to have chosen Manchester and indicated on Thursday that a deal could be tied up over the weekend.
Highly rated: Isco is one of European football's most promising talents
‘I prefer not to comment about my future but the matter could be closed this Sunday,’ Isco said.
The chance to work with new City boss Manuel Pellegrini, his coach at Malaga for the last two years, was a deciding factor in Isco’s decision.
So too was his belief that he would have a greater chance of first-team football at City rather than Madrid, where Mesut Ozil, Luka Modric, Kaka and Angel Di Maria would be competition.
Competition for places: Kaka and Luka Modric are among those already competing to start in Real's midfield
Malaga gave permission for him to speak to City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain, who persuaded Isco to move the Premier League.
The deal would follow the signings of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fernandinho and Sevilla winger Jesus Navas.
Photos
More»
De Bruyne's glamorous Wag stuns in low-cut dress
Tuesday April 23 2024
[PICTURE SPECIAL] Coventry 3-3 Man Utd (2-4 pens)
Monday April 22 2024
Your Say