MADRID // Real Madrid playmaker Isco insists he wants to stay at “the best club in the world” despite being courted by Barcelona and a host of Premier League clubs.
The Spanish international starred by scoring twice, including a 90th-minute winner, as a much-changed Madrid side remained three points clear of Barcelona at the top of the Primera Liga with a 3-2 win over Sporting Gijon on Saturday.
“I am at the best team in the world, there is no bigger team than Madrid and I feel fortunate,” Isco said. “I want to stay here for a long time.”
The 24-year-old midfielder is out of contract at the end of next season which has reportedly sparked the interest of Madrid’s rivals Barca.
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Read more
■ In pictures: Lionel Messi scores twice in 3-2 win over Real Sociedad
■ Report: Lionel Messi double sets up title-deciding el clasico against Real Madrid
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And despite 10 goals in all competitions this season he remains a fringe player with manager Zinedine Zidane preferring a midfield three of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
“You know what I think of Isco; he is a player I like a lot and his place is here,” Zidane said. “There are 24 players and it will always be unfair for those that don’t play.
“That is the difficult part of this job, leaving very good players on the bench.”
Isco was one of nine changes Zidane made to his starting line-up with the second leg of their Uefa Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich on Tuesday in mind.
However, even without the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, Madrid for the umpteenth time this season found a late winner to remain on course for a first Liga title in five years.
And Zidane rejected suggestions Madrid have got lucky with their late shows this season.
“There is no such thing as luck in football, it is down to hard work and effort in every game,” he said. “You have to make your own luck. With the team we have we can cause damage to any team.
“It is in our DNA to fight until the end at Real Madrid and today we pulled it off.”
Isco also hailed Madrid’s DNA to fight till the end, but accepted the European champions made life difficult for themselves against relegation threatened Sporting.
“We didn’t control the game like we should have,” he added. “They went ahead on two occasions, but this is the spirit of Real Madrid and we have shown it once more.
“It is in the DNA of this shirt and this badge, we have shown it so many times and again today. Until the referee blows the full-time whistle it is not over.”
* Agence France-Presse
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
Zombieland: Double Tap
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
Four out of five stars
The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make
When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.
“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.
This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).
|
Age
|
$250 a month
|
$500 a month
|
$1,000 a month
|
|
25
|
$640,829
|
$1,281,657
|
$2,563,315
|
|
35
|
$303,219
|
$606,439
|
$1,212,877
|
|
45
|
$131,596
|
$263,191
|
$526,382
|
|
55
|
$44,351
|
$88,702
|
$177,403
|
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
RESULTS
6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock
9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
Hales' batting career
Tests 11; Runs 573; 100s 0; 50s 5; Avg 27.38; Best 94
ODIs 58; Runs 1,957; 100s 5; 50s 11; Avg 36.24; Best 171
T20s 52; Runs 1,456; 100s 1; 50s 7; Avg 31.65; Best 116 not out
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
