I want Isco at Real Madrid for life', says Zinedine Zidane

- Real Madrid will not sell Isco to any club at the end of the season, according to Zinedine Zidane

- The 25-year-old was played a key role in the Galacticos double last season

- Top Premier League clubs are looking to lure the unsettled midfielder away from the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has described reports linking Isco away from the club as rubbish, saying he wants him in his squad for life.

The 25-year-old, who was instrumental to the Galacticos’ successful Champions League title defence last season, has struggled for playing time this season – with just five goals to his credit in all appearances this term.

And the manager is hoping that the distracting reports can fade off once he has declared the importance of the midfielder to his team.

Isco played no part in Madrid’s 3-0 massacre in the first leg of the El Classico last December, while he started from the bench in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Levante in their last league fixture.

He (Zidane) has therefore warned off the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, who have shown interest in luring the former Malaga man away from the Spanish capital.

"I'm glad you've asked me. I was asked before [during the January transfer window] why weren't we going to sign anyone," Zidane told reporters.

"I said I've always believed in my team and I will do until the very end. When I start something I get involved, I believe where I'm going, what I should be doing and I back the people I'm working with.

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"Isco's one of them. He is a very good footballer. He's proven that in the past and will do that again.

"It's a lie that I want Isco to be sold in the summer. Hopefully we won't hear any more of this."

He added: "There's 25 of us. Everyone is important," he said. "I get asked this question by you, by somebody else – why Isco? Why [Marco] Asensio?

"The most important thing for me is the team. Isco won't play every game between now and the end of the season but he's part of the squad.

"I get asked about Isco and I'm pretty sure I'll get asked about Asensio and [Dani] Ceballos and players who might play less than their team-mates

Isco has started 14 games and come on four more times in La Liga this season, scoring five times, and started all but one of their Champions League group games.

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