Isco candidly reflects on his final years at Real Madrid

“I had to depart Madrid earlier than expected because I felt my time there had come to an end. However, making the decision to leave the best club in the world is a complex one, and pinpointing the right moment for such a step is even more challenging. These are decisions that stay with you forever.

My journey at Real Madrid spanned nine years. In the final few years, I felt somewhat indifferent due to circumstances that I’ll share one day. Nevertheless, there were also five or six incredibly fulfilling years during which I had the privilege of playing alongside the world’s finest players and winning trophies.

Over time, things changed with the various coaches, but regardless of my efforts, it became evident that I wouldn’t see much playing time. My mental readiness waned, and there were moments when I felt shattered. It was made abundantly clear to me that no matter what transpired, I wouldn’t be a regular on the pitch.

During my last stint at Real Madrid under Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti, I didn’t have many opportunities to play. They consistently favored the iconic trio of Casemiro, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric. Dani Ceballos also ranked higher than me in the pecking order, and then Federico Valverde emerged as well.

Ultimately, as a free agent in 2022, I made the decision to part ways with Real Madrid. Today, I find myself at Real Betis, where I’ve become a standout player, earning multiple Man of the Match awards this season.”