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Real move ahead of Man City in Isco chase

Isco is wanted by Real Madrid and Manchester City © PA Photos

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Real Madrid appear to have stolen a march on Manchester City in the race to sign Malaga starlet Isco after the player's father and Malaga executives were photographed driving into Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

It had appeared that the talented playmaker was likely to move with his current coach Manuel Pellegrini to City this summer but Madrid now look favourites to clinch his signature after Blancos representative Julio Senn, Malaga sporting director Mario Husillos, Malaga director general Vicente Casado, Isco's father Francisco Alarcon and the player's lawyer Rafael Comino were all spotted packed into a car driving into the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Reports in Spain suggest Madrid president Florentino Perez is keen to sign the Andalucian as part of a new 'buy Spanish' policy, and is willing to meet the €35 million release clause in his contract, but would prefer to include some players in part-exchange.

Madrid newspaper Marca have Isco on their cover on Thursday morning, and say Madrid's first offer was €20 million plus winger Jose Callejon, while AS claim Malaga would prefer young centre-forward Alvaro Moratas be included in the deal, which would be sealed ahead of Madrid's presidential elections on June 16.

Given Pellegrini's relationship with the player, and City sporting director Txiki Begiristain's known interest, the English club could still make a new attempt to bring him to Eastlands. Either way it looks certain now that the player will leave Malaga this summer. Boquerones executive Francisco Martin Aguilar told Radio Marca that a move was likely, and would suit all parties.

"We are proud that a kid who came out of Malaga has triumphed," Martin Aguilar said. "If he does go to a big club, it will benefit the club's finances. There is a lot of interest in him, but nothing official."

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