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Santiago Solari wants to keep out-of-favour Isco at Real Madrid

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 02 January 2019

Solari wants to keep Isco at Real Madrid

Santiago Solari challenges Isco to force his way back into first-team contention after failing to make a single league start since October.

Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari has suggested that Isco will not be granted permission to leave the club this month, despite his limited playing time.

The Spain international has not started a single La Liga game since Solari took the reins from Julen Lopetegui at the end of October.

Isco has instead been restricted to substitute appearances in the league and starts in cup competitions, leading to talk that he could be sold during the winter window.

Chelsea, Juventus and Arsenal are among the clubs to have been linked with a big-money move Isco, but Solari wants the former Malaga ace to force his way back into first-team contention at the Bernabeu.

"Every player here has to be committed, dedicated and keep working with hope and excitement; they are all fundamental to us," he told reporters.

"Isco has given us a lot of joy and he has to keep doing that. He's a magnificent footballer and, now that we have lost Marcos Llorente, Javi Sanchez and Mariano [Diaz], we're going to need everyone."

Madrid return to action on Thursday evening with a rescheduled league match against Villarreal, for which Isco is in contention.