Real Madrid's Isco 'did not even WARM UP during their last three games'

Real Madrid midfielder Isco is so far down the pecking order under Zinedine Zidane that his manager has not even asked him to warm up in recent games, according to reports from Spain.

Isco was once a key asset in Zidane's first spell at the Bernabeu and was often linked with big-money moves to the Premier League after shining for Los Blancos - helping them win LaLiga twice and the Champions League four times.

But his levels have dropped over the last two years and has played just nine games in all competitions this season - including just five starts - with Marca claiming he has 'disappeared' from the plans of Zidane.

Isco's last game came in the 2-0 loss to Shahktar Donetsk in the Champions League at the start of the month, when he came on for the final 13 minutes. Since then, Madrid have played three and won three - a 1-0 win over Sevilla and 2-0 wins over Borussia Monchengladbach and rivals Atletico Madrid.

The 28-year-old was not even asked to warm up for those games, the report adds, claiming that his future at Madrid seems 'less and less likely'.

The transfer window opens in around two weeks, and Isco is set to be one of the players heavily linked with an exit from the club as Zidane has several options ahead of him. The club have been hit hard financially by the coronavirus pandemic and could be tempted to cash in.

The attacking midfielder has Federico Valverde, Lucas Vasquez, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr all ahead of him in the pecking order, Marca says, and stresses that the Spaniard 'wants to feel like a protagonist again' with Euro 2020 coming up next summer.

Spain boss Luis Enrique is blessed with a talented squad and Isco may have to find another club in January to stand a chance of being selected.

After beating Atletico 2-0 on Saturday, Zidane had high praise for his midfielders, calling them f***ing great', spelling out the challenge for Isco to get into the team.

'We used [Modric and Kroos] to find the way out, it's true. We had to do it.

'And then playing fast from one side to the other and with diagonals, we found gaps. They're f***ing great; they're exceptional.'

Isco joined Madrid from Malaga in 2013-14 and has since played 316 times, scoring 51 goals. In 2012, he was named as Europe's Golden Boy - the award given to the most promising player in the world at the time.