Former Real Madrid Star Reveals Why He Named His Dog After Lionel Messi

• Real Madrid legend Isco once named his dog after Barcelona legend Lionel Messi
• Isco is said to be a huge, long-time admirer of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner
• The five-time Champions League winning Spaniard left Sevilla after four months

Former Real Madrid midfielder, Isco Alarcon made the bizarre revelation that one of his dogs was named after Paris Saint-Germain superstar, Lionel Messi.

The Spaniard is currently a free agent after Sevilla decided to terminate his contract after just four months.

The 30-year-old made 19 appearances for the Andalusian club, notching one goal and providing three assists in the ongoing La Liga season.

Isco and Sevilla amicably agreed to split ways after Jorge Sampaoli took over from Julen Lopetegui.

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Isco called his dog 'Messi'

Isco ended his nine-year relationship with Real Madrid to join Sevilla, winning four Champions League trophies and three La Liga titles during his nine-year stint at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

But before he signed for Carlo Ancelotti's men in 2013, Isco was a huge fan of Messi, hence his naming his dog after the Argentine genius.

"I named my dog 'Messi' because Messi is the best in the world, and so is my dog," Isco confessed in 2013, as quoted by Goal.

Three years later, Isco retracted that it was in fact his brother and father's idea to name the pet Messi

"I’m cleaning my hands with [the naming of the dog], I’m a Madridista and that’s that. I don’t walk him anymore; imagine me calling him Messi in the streets," he said via Metro.co.uk.

Isco slams Union Berlin

Meanwhile, it’s been a battle of words between Isco’s representatives and Union Berlin, following the Spanish midfielder’s failed move to the Bundesliga club.

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The ex-Real Madrid star had flown to Germany to pen a deal with the club on the last day of the transfer window, but the deal suddenly fell through.

According to reports, the former Los Blancos star's agency has accused Union Berlin of backing out of the deal and changing terms of the contract.

Isco remains a free agent

Sports Brief also reported on the near-certain transfer deal between the former Real Madrid star and Union Berlin falling through at the last minute.

Isco was already in Germany earlier this month, where he reportedly underwent a medical with the club ahead of a proposed move to the Bundesliga.

However, it was claimed that there were contradictions from a previous agreement between the two parties, causing the talks to collapse.