If that’s true, it’s over with the small talk in Köpenick: 1. FC Union Berlin is apparently preparing for something bigger, if not for attacking the big FC Bayern. According to a media report, the cult football club with the hard-working image from the east of the capital brings in the former real star Isco – on the final day of the winter changeover window, the second-placed Bundesliga player would provide the international hit.
A Spanish sports newspaper has already written about the “bomb of the day”. According to the German broadcaster Sky, Isco should get a contract until the end of June 2024 with an option for another year. The contract is to be signed on Tuesday, and Isco could experience the special atmosphere on Tuesday evening when Union receives VfL Wolfsburg in the DFB Cup round of 16.
His real name is Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez. He can still be found on the website of the club he played for for many years: Real Madrid. But Isco comes from the south of Spain, more precisely from Benalmádena, a small town near Málaga.
Isco has been without a club since December – most recently he played in Seville
From Valencia, the footballing path led him via the second largest city in Andalusia to the Royals in 2013, he was considered a huge talent, had already been voted Golden Boy the year before by the Italian newspaper “Tuttosport” – the year before, by the way, Mario Götze had won the election.
In 2013 Isco won the European Championship with Spain’s U21s. After making his debut in the Priméra Division in 2010 for FC Valencia, he made 53 appearances in his first Real season. What followed was success en masse: Isco won the Champions League five times with the Madrilenians and four times he was world champion with the capital club. The 38-cap international has three UEFA Supercup victories, three Spanish league titles, three Spanish Super Cup victories and one Spanish Cup title.
There was no clear denial from the Union side about a transfer
Three days before Christmas Eve his engagement at FC Sevilla was over. He didn’t get a new contract at Real and went to Andalusia. The contract of the 30-year-old attacking midfielder was terminated there. The reasons for this were not officially given.
That was the chance for Union to take action. If you are without a club, you do not have to pay a transfer fee. As a rule, a decent fee is due for this, but professional football manager Oliver Ruhnert is considered a strong negotiator. But how the contact with Isco came about in the first place should be one of the exciting questions if the transfer cracker, which initially seemed more like a cheeky flirt, should come about. One feels honored that Union would be associated with such a player, said club president Dirk Zingler, among other things.
What was then noticed were the other signals towards Isco. Captain Christopher Trimmel wrote after the 2-0 win in the capital city duel against Hertha BSC: “This victory is Isco for you.” Teammates reacted immediately – and so did the public. However, there was no clear denial from the club bosses.
Isco would seal a kind of turning point in the iron, which has only been first class since 2019. 40 points is the goal again this season, although Union, as second in the table, is only one point behind Bayern. If the 40 is full, it is readjusted. The Unioners are at 36 points at the moment.
The commitments of Josip Juranovic from Croatia and Aïssa Laïdouni from Tunisia – both World Cup participants from their nations – proved that the club, which is also represented in the Europa League, is also becoming more and more interesting for international players. (dpa)
Source: Tagesspiegel
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
