Isco: 'Real Madrid can’t cry over Cristiano Ronaldo – he didn’t want to be here'

No love lost | Isco says Real Madrid must move on from Cristiano Ronaldo
AFP/Getty Images/Gabriel Bouys
Ben Hayward22 October 2018

Isco says it is no use Real Madrid regretting the summer sale of Cristiano Ronaldo amid their current crisis and also aimed a not-so-subtle dig at his former team-mate on Monday.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Viktoria Plzen, the midfielder was asked if the team were missing the Portuguese forward, who scored 450 goals in nine seasons at Real before joining Juventus in July.

“People have been talking about that all season,” he said. “We can’t be talking about someone who isn’t here. I miss [Gareth] Bale and [Dani] Carvajal when they are not with us. There are plenty of solutions to score goals.”

And pointing out that it was Ronaldo's decision to move on and not the club's call, he added: “We can’t be crying over someone who didn’t want to be here.”

In Pictures | Real Madrid train ahead of Champions League clash

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The 26-year-old also backed his former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui to turn things around after four defeats in the last five games and a goal drought which saw Real go 481 minutes (just over eight hours) without scoring.

Asked if he agreed with skipper Sergio Ramos that sacking Lopetegui is not the solution, he said: “It would be crazy. We have to let him work. We have been together two months. In the end, they will have to sack us – we are the ones who are playing.

“We are all in this, not only the coach, and I’m confident this team can go on to have a magnificent year.”

Photo: Reuters/Sergio Perez
REUTERS/Sergio Perez

Isco played some of his finest football under Lopetegui with the national team and claimed the coach’s philosophy is supported by the Real squad, despite recent results.

“In the national team he did a phenomenal job. Here as well, although the results aren’t coming,” he said.

“His idea of football convinces us all, but things aren’t working out. Football is fickle, but we have to turn this situation around.”

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