Francisco Roman Alarcon Suarez, more commonly referred to as Isco has again been called up to the Spanish national team for the games against Israel and France, on the back of some impressive cameo performances for Real Madrid.

Coach Julen Lopetegui has been fullsome in his praise of the 24-year-old who is likely to start in both games and who really seems to give his club side extra purpose whenever he takes to the field.

Lopetegui’s views are shared by Zinedine Zidane which makes his decision to continue overlooking the midfielder harder to understand. It’s certainly not something that Isco himself can get his head around.

There have been many occasions during this 2016/17 season where Real have stumbled through games only to be re-energised by Isco’s presence from the bench.

A fearless midfielder with an eye for goal, he does have an occasional tendency to overplay things rather than keeping it simple, but there’s no denying the spark that he provides, linking defence and attack with seamless ease.

Unfortunately, it was only when Casemiro was injured that the Spaniard managed to have a regular run in the side and show his worth.

In so doing, the hard-to-please locals were in no doubt; he was regularly voted the man of the match by those who attended the Santiago Bernabeu at the time.

Despite this, Zidane has persevered with a midfield trio of Casemiro-Kroos-Modric when all three have been fit, nudging Isco and James Rodriguez to the fringes. Even Gareth Bale has more minutes on the pitch than the former and he’s been out injured for four months of the campaign.

Though the Frenchman is keen to renew the contracts of both the Spaniard and the Colombian, the likelihood is that both will depart in the summer.

Isco has already issued a thinly veiled threat which hasn’t been received well by those in the corridors of power at the Bernabeu. If they are to let him leave — which is by no means a foregone conclusion at this juncture — then he won’t come cheap.

However, money is no object to Manchester City and Pep Guardiola is a confirmed admirer, as was his predecessor Manuel Pellegrini, Isco’s coach at Malaga.

Were he to make the switch, the expectation from his side would surely be because a starting place has been all but assured. Therefore, his performance levels need to consistently trump those of David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne et al.

Suggestions coming out of Spain are that Barcelona remain very interested in his services too. That’s a move that would certainly tug at the heartstrings of a player with a dog named Messi and who supported the Blaugrana as teen. However, the existence of an ‘anti-Barca clause’ in his contract means Isco is highly unlikely to ever turn out for Real’s biggest rivals.

Gerard Deulofeu has also convinced Lopetegui that he’s worthy of another look, after some stellar performances since his loan move to AC Milan.

Still an Everton player at this point, it’s actually Barcelona that will determine his future.

Clearly not wishing to be their puppet, Deulofeu has stated a preference to remain in Milan where he is settled, but the fact remains that if the Catalans exercise their buy back clause, he will be back at the Camp Nou next season and there’s nothing he can do about it.

Two unhappy players with the same goal in mind — just to play and enjoy their football.

Not too much to ask is it?