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Isco Alarcón of Real Madrid (Photo by Diego Souto / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images)
Real Madrid had several key veteran players who recovered in the 2019-2020 season under Zinedine Zidane, but no one improved more than Isco. Here is why.
Since he was anointed as the best young player in the world while in Malaga, Real Madrid offensive midfielder Isco has carried a weight of expectations around him. And while it’s convenient for fans to be judgmental and conjecture that you haven’t met them, the truth is that when he’s healthy and constantly playing, he’s one of the most dynamic and highest-rated midfielders in European football.
Last season, the Spanish international started the year slowly, brushing off rust and injuries. Isco was coming off an unfortunate 2018-2019 season under a carousel of managers who were lacking for Los Blancos at this time, but he was far from the only star player to come out of a poor year.
Once Isco started rounding to health, he started rounding to shape. The 28-year-old appeared in the biggest games of the first half of the season, making brilliant runs off the ball to interrupt PSG’s excellent midfield. Isco and Eden Hazard together were the difference between Real’s dominant first half 2-0 against PSG (before Hazard’s injury) and their shameful 3-0 loss at Parc des Princes earlier that season.
Then he had an even stronger game against FC Barcelona in the first Clásico of the season. Isco used his strong demonstrations against Barcelona and PSG to build momentum in the second half of the season, where he broke out as one of the team’s best players.
Isco led Valencia in a convincing victory in the Spanish Super Cup. He helped lead the team to a dominant 4-1 victory in Pamplona against Osasuna after they fell early, while kicking off his previously lackluster performance in another gear with his pass and clever dribble.
When Real Madrid faced Barcelona for the second time in 2019-2020, Isco was in his element. I should have marked a brace if it wasn’t for Marc Andre ter Stegen’s world-class skill. Isco’s technique, deflected shots, and vision returned to 100 percent for the most important game of the season, as Isco played a key role with Vinicius Junior in a dominant 2-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu.
When football returns, Real Madrid knows they can count on Isco, whom Zinedine Zidane has legitimately endorsed. The versatile attacking midfielder has stood out to the left, to the right and, of course, in the middle as a central player in Real’s attack. Its quality stands out now, as it should be.
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Isco is still at the peak of his career, and Los Blancos may even have little hope that he will return to his 2016-2017 special form when he had 10 goals and eight assists in La Liga. In 2019-2020, Isco improved year after year better than anyone and showed Madrid fans that it still has a lot to offer.
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