Wednesday this week Francisco Roman Alarcon Suarez, or Isco as he is better known, is expected to walk into the Santiago Bernabeu, kiss a badge and be officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player. Last week the club announced that they had signed the attacking midfielder, one of Spain’s most prized youngsters, and all that was left to do was for the player to pass his medical.
However, there are some mixed opinions about the transfer. In defence of the move, fans say that Florentino Perez, in his second spell as President, has been successful when signing young and emerging talent and making them into superstars. Raphael Varane, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira prove that. On the other hand, there are those that believe that by signing for Los Vikingos, the Andaluz will get limited playing time, will stunt his development and will waste his talent, and they say there is more than one player who can prove that.
The name that continues to pop up when people want to point to this being a mistake is that of Sergio Canales. Signed from Racing Santander in 2010, a bright future was predicted for the attacking midfielder, but a year later he was sent out to Valencia on loan and then last year the move was made permanent. Canales is used as a typical example to describe Real Madrid’s failure in developing budding Spanish talent and there have been many nonsensical comparisons between the 22-year-old now at Mestalla and the 21-year-old bound for Madrid, who incidentally developed at Los Che’s youth academy.
Canales had only played a handful of games before Real Madrid signed him and whilst there he suffered with bad luck and injuries. Isco has over two years of Primera Division experience, was crucial in Malaga’s Champions League campaign and has made his Spanish debut. It should also be pointed out that Canales was only signed for a small percentage of what the Malaga playmaker is rumoured to be costing. As Canales was seen as a future star, Isco is seen as someone who can make an immediate impact.
Estaban Granero, Dani Parejo, Pedro Leon and Jose Callejon are other examples that suggest that Real Madrid do have issues with young players, but there is one big example of where Perez and the Real Madrid board got it so right, Sergio Ramos.
In 2005 when the first era of Galaticos were still about, Perez took out his chequebook and spent over €27m on a defender and like now, it raised a few eyebrows. At just 19 and after only playing one full season as a senior player, it was seen as a risk. Ramos had talent, he had speed and he had lots of potential but he also made immature mistakes, lacked discipline at times and some were worried about off the field distractions. But Real Madrid believed and they have not looked back since.
Signed as a right-back, he has now been converted into a central defender and is seen as one of the best in the world. He is the second captain at the club and fans adore him. Newly appointed Coach Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping that Ramos will take Isco under his wing and that the youngster from Malaga will take some notes.
As Barca continue to develop their Cantera and with Atletico de Madrid also promoting more youth players, Perez and Co. are under pressure to bring more Spaniards into the mix. They lost out on players like Juan Mata, David Silva and Fernando Llorente. Lots of fans were furious when the club opted for Luka Modric, instead of the much cheaper, more versatile and Spanish, Santi Cazorla. It seems that the re-elected President has taken note and his first major signing as he enters his new term will be Spanish, something fans have welcomed.
The big issue is over where the 21-year-old will exactly fit in at the Bernabeu. Ozil, Modric and Ricky Kaka are already fighting for playing time and where the new arrival slots in remains to be seen. There is always risk when spending big money on players like Isco, but signing proven and experienced players also carries its degree of risk, just ask Kaka.
The player has the world at his feet and all eyes will be on him and his development. The pressure is on but as we saw last season at Malaga, when the chips are down, he is one that likes to stand up and be counted.
