Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Isco has been left out of Santiago Solari’s Copa del Rey matchday squad to face Barcelona.
The creative midfielder showed up to training this week, but will not feature for Los Blancos in the second leg of the semi-final in what is the third El Clasico of the year.
Isco, 26, was not expected to disrupt Solari’s favoured midfield trio of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, given Solari’s clear disaffection with the playmaker, but it is now being questioned seeing as the midfielder has not even been included in the squad.
Madrid are hoping to secure a place in the final, having drawn 1-1 with their rivals at the Camp Nou in the first leg, which took place on 6 February.
Isco, who has been out with a back injury for the past three matches in La Liga, has regularly featured on the bench for Real Madrid this campaign and has only started five league matches this season.
Solari has repeatedly faced questions from Spanish media in press conference about his relationship with the playmaker, given he has only used Isco as a starter in three matches, against UD Mellila in the Copa Del Rey in which he scored twice, against CSKA Moscow in a 3-0 Champions League defeat, and in a comfortable 3-0 Copa Del Rey win against Leganés.
Solari has criticised Isco’s work rate in training previously, saying: “In football, you have to work and put 100 per cent of your talent into everything. You have to do that in training so you are available to play.”
Isco has been rumoured to be looking for a move away from the club in the summer as a result of his playing time, with moves to Chelsea in a swap and cash deal for Eden Hazard mooted, with rivals Barcelona also reportedly interested.
Pep Guardiola has also previously been recorded as an admirer of the midfielder and as a result Isco has been linked in the press with Manchester City.