Guardiola would like to see Isco here...
FIVE years ago City felt they had Spanish midfield ace Isco in the bag, only to be thwarted by a late phone call.
But could the Blues be about to launch another bid for the 25-yearold Real Madrid star, who has become increasingly restless at the Bernabeu?
Reports this week have suggested that Pep Guardiola has now gone cold on the idea of signing Riyad Mahrez, after the Leicester forward’s sulky response to his unsuccessful proposed move to the Blues.
Guardiola certainly hates prima donna behaviour from his players – and Mahrez’s reaction smacks of someone who would not react well to being rotated, which would certainly happen to him at City.
Mahrez does remain on the Blues’ short-list, but with rumbles of discontent issuing from Isco’s camp, he has also been lightly pencilled in by football director Txiki Begiristain.
Manuel Pellegrini wanted to make Isco his first big signing in 2013 – the two men had made waves together at Malaga, where Isco had said he would run through brick walls for the man who would later provide a seamless transition from Roberto Mancini to Guardiola.
Back in 2013, City had agreed a fee with Malaga, and Isco had given the nod to the personal terms on offer before he flew off to the European Under-21 Championships in Israel.
By a twist of fate, Isco was placed in a room-share with Madrid youngster Alvaro Morata, now at Chelsea, and that ultimately killed the deal.
Isco was brilliant at the championships, and Madrid president Florentino Peres personally called Morata and instructed him to persuade Isco to abandon City and head to them instead.
City have never lost their interest, and any indication that he is unhappy would re-ignite their bid.
Isco has had a fine career at Madrid, winning three Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups, La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
The fact he fits snugly into a front three but also has the awareness and strength to fit into the midfield three means he has averaged 48 appearances a season.
But he has failed to nail down a place in their full-strength team, with Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo filling the attacking spots and Luka Modric and Toni Kroos working behind them. And rumours that he is unhappy were fuelled by his reaction on being subbed as Madrid were humiliated at home by lowly Leganes in the Copa del Rey last month. But these days even a player of Isco’s talents would find it tough to break into this City team, with Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva imperious and Ilkay Gundogan a strong back-up, while Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva are tussling for starts up front. But Guardiola still wants another forward, with attempts for Alexis Sanchez and Mahrez falling flat – and Isco would fit the bill nicely.