Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has heaped the pressure on new Real Madrid signing Isco by claiming the attacking midfielder is the future of the national team.
The former Malaga player signed for Los Blancos this week in a 35 million euro deal after rejecting offers from some of Europe’s biggest club including big-spending Premier League side Manchester City.
Speaking to Radio Nacional de España, del Bosque said Isco was crucial to the national side in the next few years.
“We have a lot of hope pinned to Isco, he is the future of the national team,” he claimed.
He also defended a number of Real Madrid players who came in for criticism following Spain’s 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final – including Alvaro Arbeloa and Iker Casillas.
“Alvaro played very well throughout the tournament,” he said.
He added: “It’s as if we are always looking for the weak link and we are all guilty of that. Casillas was magnificent. We played good football at times but the final wiped away everything we did up until then. We now have another year to try to make sure we have a good World Cup – if we qualify.”
