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Isco refuses to take the armband from Marcelo

Sudarshan Venkatesan
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Isco denies to wear the captain’s armband, Marcelo hands it over to Carvajal.

The Los Blancos kicked off their week with their horrendous 3-0 defeat to CSKA Moscow at Santiago Bernabeu in the UEFA Champions League Group Stages. Isco has often been criticized by the Madrid faithful, and he put in yet another abysmal performance against the Russian outfit which saw the fans start booing him at their own backyard.

Marcelo, who was leading Real Madrid last night handed over the captain’s armband to the midfielder Isco upon his substitution. The left-back was replaced by Dani Carvajal in the 68th minute. Adding more to the fuel, the 26-year-old midfielder refused against wearing it.


With unnecessary confusion surrounding at the middle of the park, the Brazilian confirmed that Isco said to hand it over to the right-back Dani Carvajal. Marcelo also said that the midfielder did not do it because of the continuous whistles from the fans throughout the game.

Speaking in the post-match interview, Marcelo said “I tried to give the armband to Isco [when I came off for Dani Carvajal]. But he told me that I had to give it to Carvajal. I don’t know what the reason for that was. I didn’t see Isco’s reaction, but I don’t think it was against the fans. We’re here to give our all for this club. We’re really hurting, but all we can do is recover and focus on the weekend.”

According to Irish Mirror, Isco wanted his colleague Carvajal to wear the armband because the right-back joined the club two days before him in 2013. Dani Carvajal signed for the Los Blancos on July 1, 2013, whereas, Isco joined the club from Malaga on July 3, 2013.

Isco has always been inconsistent and has struggled to put in a string of performance under all the managers he has played under in Real Madrid. There were various reports that he has fallen out with the current manager Santiago Solari.

Following the 5-1 massacre at Nou Camp, he has not started a single game in the La Liga and the Champions League until yesterday. He has scored 4 goals and assisted 2 this term. It has been a rough patch for the Spanish International who continues to assess his options to revive his career.

There have been rumors rumbling that he is looking to leave the Los Blancos in January, with Juventus and Manchester City showing interest on the Spaniard to lure him away from Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid conceded 16 goals from just 13 games under the former manager Julen Lopetegui. But, under the new interim manager Santiago Solari, they have conceded 9 goals in 11 games and have sealed their qualification to the knock out stages of the UEFA Champions League and in contention to win the Copa Del Rey as well.

There are few results which have gone against Real Madrid under Solari, but the 13-times Champions League winners are well and truly underway to finish in the top four in the La Liga this season. They invite Rayo Vallecano to Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

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