Isco will not join Union Berlin after the former Real Madrid attacking midfielder’s planned move fell through on transfer deadline day.
Reports from Germany say Isco has passed his medical and is ready to sign for a second-place team in the Bundesliga, one point behind Bayern Munich.
The 30-year-old was released from Sevilla after just four months at the club in December and looked ready for a new challenge in Berlin.
However, the expected transition broke down just hours before the deadline, which in Germany is 1800 local time (1700 GMT).
Both sides blamed each other, with Union sporting director Oliver Runert saying in a statement released by the club on Twitter: “We would love Isco to play for us, but we have our limits.
“Today they were exceeded, despite our previous agreement, so the transfer will not take place.”
The German newspaper Bild quoted Isco’s management company, Gestifute, as saying: “During the negotiations, we had to understand that our negotiating partner was no longer willing to move within the framework originally discussed.”
Union, who take on Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday, have won their three games in the Bundesliga since the World Cup and the winter break in their surprise title challenge.
Isco began his career with Valencia and Málaga before spending nine years at Real Madrid, leaving the Santiago Bernabéu at the end of last season.
— 1. FC Union Berlin (@fcunion_en) January 31, 2023
