Real Madrid’s Isco starred as Spain cruised past Italy in a World Cup qualifier – if only Tottenham Hotspur got their man.
When the opposition manager admits he felt compelled to applaud your performance, you know you haven’t had a bad game.
And it wasn’t Italy’s veteran coach Giampiero Ventura who lavished praise on Spain star Isco after he inspired a 3-0 win World Cup qualifying win for La Roja which all but secures their place at Russia 2018.
The Real Madrid playmaker turned on the style in the de facto Group G decider, beating Gianluigi Buffon with a brilliant free-kick with his right foot before angling a precise drive into the bottom corner with his left to put Spain 2-0 up in the first half.
And Italy midfielder Marco Verratti, one of the best in his position in world football, admits that even a certain Barcelona number 10 would have difficulty matching Isco’s sublime performance.
“I suffered a lot against Isco,” PSG’s Verratti, who resembled a Sunday league amateur when falling for a devilish Isco nutmeg in the second half, told Calciomercato.
“I was taken aback by his performance. Not even Messi has come close to that level. When I saw his nutmeg, I felt like standing up and applauding too.”
And Tottenham Hotspur supporters could be forgiven for watching on in envy as Isco continues to grow into one of the best midfielders in world football.
At the time, Isco was struggling for regular minutes under Zinedine Zidane but, in the last few months, he has emerged as a go-to player for both club and country.
And Sky Sports reports that the 25-year-old is set to sign a new five-year deal complete with a £634 million release clause. Needless to say, the ship has sailed for Spurs.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
