Is Real Madrid the right place for Isco?

Isco of Spain celebrates scoring in the UEFA European U21 Championships Final against Italy at Teddy Stadium on June 18, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel. (Getty Images)

The star performer for the Spanish U-21 team at the recently held U-21 Euro tournament, Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez (a.k.a Isco), has garnered a lot of interest from European giants such as Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid.

If paper talk is to be believed then the 21-year-old attacking midfielder has agreed to join Los Blancos for a reported fee of 30 million pounds. But the real question that needs to be addressed is: would a move to Bernabeu really help Isco?

Currently manager-less, Real are believed to have reached an agreement with Italian tactician, Carlo Ancelotti. Now if Ancelotti arrives at Madrid, will Isco fit into the Italian’s plan? Or will we see another talented youngster warm the bench, as often is the case in the Madrid camp.

Ancelotti has had the same footballing philosophy when he was at the helm at Milan, Chelsea and PSG. He prefers a narrow formation always opting for either a 4-3-2-1 or a 4-3-1-2 formation, with four in the defence, three men in the midfield and three central attackers.

If Ancelotti settles for this preferred 4-3-1-2 formation, he would have to play an attacking midfielder to assist his forwards. Isco, as we know, is an attacking midfielder endowed with great technical skills and neat passing ability. But so are Mesut Ozil and Kaka.

Ozil has played as the playmaker for the Los Blancos for the past two seasons, rarely losing his place to the likes of Luka Modric or Kaka. There are very good chances that Ancelotti might go with Ozil rather than Isco, mainly because of Ozil’s pin-point passing and ability to shoot from distance. Isco, no doubt is a magnificent player but still needs to develop and perfect his skills.

Kaka, who was treated unfairly by Jose Mourinho during his term, might just get an opportunity to revive himself under the tutelage of his former manager, Ancelotti. Kaka was an indispensable part of Ancelotti’s Milan squad that tasted much success in the domestic league as well as European platform from 2002-07.It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Italian give Kaka another chance to prove himself and regain his confidence before next year’s World Cup.

Ancelotti’s options are not limited to Ozil and Kaka. The Italian can opt for Modric as well, who used to play in the hole for Tottenham Hotspur on occasion. But during his time in Spain, Modric has been partnered with Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira in central midfield.

So with three exceptionally talented players in the form of Ozil, Kaka and Modric in the squad to play of the striker(s), the chances of Isco making it as first-team regular seem bleak.

If the transfer does materialise, then Isco should be prepared to face a stiff competition for a place in the first team and should try his best to prove that he is worth the hefty transfer fee that Madrid are willing to part with for his services.