Julen Lopetegui arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu and played Isco, just liked he did with Spain before he was sacked 2 days prior to the start of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Lopetegui won the applause of the same fans who would later call for his head. Meanwhile, Isco inconveniently got appendicitis and was ruled out.
He made his way back to play in the 'Clásico', but was not in form to save Lopetegui's job. Santiago Solari ended up burying the season of an Isco that was signed to lead Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane's return to Real stopped his exit, but he still hadn't found the form of his previous self. Against Mallorca, Isco started for the first time in almost 2 months and he didn't stand out.
With no Toni Kross or Luka Modric, he had to abandon his natural habitat to try to be the creative midfielder, but he was incapable of doing it for a depleted side at the Son Moix.