Union Berlin ahead of Isco transfer – Real Madrid insider with tough reckoning

Bundesliga

It’s arguably one of the biggest sensational changes of this year’s winter transfer window. According to consistent media reports, the Spaniard Isco is about to sign at 1. FC Union Berlin.

The players in second place celebrated the new signing shortly after the derby win against Hertha BSC at the weekend with comments on Instagram: But the rumors were still dismissed as fun.

Now it’s gotten serious. Stadium at the Alte Försterei instead of Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. He is expected to sign a contract until 2024 with an option for another year.

Iron fans and Bundesliga observers celebrated the transfer on social media. After all, the 31-year-old was once considered one of the greatest talents in Spanish football, played regularly for Real Madrid and won the Spanish championship three times and the Champions League five times with the royal team.

A football fan wrote on Twitter: “Isco is now simply serving Sven Michel and Kevin Behrens instead of Ronaldo, Vini, Bale, Benzema, Asensio, James, Maria, Morata please wake me up”.

But as great as the joy among Union supporters is, there are some big question marks behind the transfer. Because the times when Isco served Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale or Vinicius Junior with templates are long gone.

After he no longer had a regular place at Real, was often injured and noticed a lack of fitness, he switched to FC Sevilla in the summer. But the Andalusians continued to go downhill. After just a few months, his contract was terminated in December. By then, he had made twelve league games, four from the start, and didn’t score a goal.

Real Madrid connoisseur thinks Isco change for “desperate transfer”

Nils Kern, Editor-in-Chief of the Real Total website, has been following Real Madrid, Isco and Spanish football for many years. And he cannot understand the transfer of the Spaniard.

In a tweet, he emphasizes much more that the 30-year-old does not fit with the people of Köpenick. “Isco has never been a fighter, Union requires a lot more sacrifice,” he said of the Bundesliga second-placed’s style of play.

“Little ball, little dribbling, a lot in the air, a lot of fouls. His style is zero,” he characterized the iron game and questioned whether the transfer made sense. He also summed it up: “He’s zero explosive or fit.” Even during his time at Real Madrid, Isco was repeatedly noticed by his lack of fitness and that he often seemed anything but fit.

For Kern, therefore, it is more of a “desperate transfer”, and he also asks whether it could not be a flop with an announcement.

From the Bundesliga, Isco is said to have negotiated a change with RB Leipzig.

And Dazn commentator David Ploch, who regularly accompanies Spanish league games for the streaming platform, also considers the change questionable. “The truth is he’s been chasing form for years. And whether he will ever come close to reaching it again remains questionable.”

On the other hand, coach Urs Fischer and his team have proven that they have been able to get quite a few professionals back on track. And even Max Kruse, who was not quite as well trained, developed into a top player in the Bundesliga again in Köpenick.