Isco: I want to do great things here
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
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"I want to do great things here," said Isco as he was presented to 8,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabéu following a reported €30m move from Málaga CF to Real Madrid CF.
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Real Madrid CF's new midfielder Isco was presented to 8,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabéu and said he was relishing the challenge of forcing his way into Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI.
Exactly ten years and one day after former Madrid midfielder David Beckham was unveiled to supporters, Isco was handed the same No23 shirt as the ex-England international and stressed his desire to "do great things here" after completing a reported €30m move from Málaga CF.
"When Madrid came in for me I didn't have to think twice; I am where I want to be," he explained. "I had other offers from teams in Europe but it was impossible to turn Real Madrid down. It's true I have been a Málaga fan, but now I am the most ardent of Madrid supporters and I am going to give everything [for this club]."
Isco, 21, signed a five-year deal at the nine-time European champions following his move from Los Boquerones, who he helped to last season's UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with three goals and four assists. A permanent fixture in Málaga's lineup during that run, Isco is aware of the competition he faces at Madrid, where he will be vying for a starting berth with the likes of Mesut Özil, Kaká and Luka Modrić.
"Winning a first-team place at the best team in the world is difficult; it's not something you are just presented with," he said. "Having said that, if I didn't think I was capable of doing so I wouldn't have come here. To make a great team you need a lot of competition and that's what exists at this club. I feel confident and will show what I can do on the pitch."
Having recently played a key role in Spain's UEFA European Under-21 Championship victory in Israel, Isco revealed he is looking forward to teaming up with the tournament's top scorer, Álvaro Morata. "We roomed together at the finals and he said great things to me about Madrid, but he didn't have to convince me of anything," he added. "I feel I made the best decision; it's a dream to play here. I am 21 years old and I want to learn from [all of my new team-mates]."
Under recently appointed coach Ancelotti and alongside fellow new signing Daniel Carvajal, Isco will be hoping to guide Madrid towards a tenth European Cup – La Décima. The Merengues begin their 2013/14 campaign in the group stage.