'My kids were more excited about seeing me with Yamal than with Spain'

Isco Alarcon assessed his return six years later to the Spanish national team, confessing that he never lost his illusion, and with the desire to get “a little thorn” out of his side with the first team, achieving his first title as an international after recovering his best level at Real Betis.

“It has been a while since then,” Isco said as he watched images of his last match with Spain, a 3-0 win over Sweden at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on June 10th, 2019. “I'm happy to be back after a long time, the illusion of playing with your national team is never lost. I come to enjoy the moment and hopefully win.”

“There are moments of doubt when things don't work out for you, but there is the importance of continuing, of insisting, of not giving up and in the end I like football and passion is what has brought me here again,” he reflected in a Federation report.

At 33 years of age, Isco admits that he returns to the national team with more maturity and eager to enjoy the team that Luis de la Fuente has created.

“I'm a little more mature in general terms, I try to continue being the same player, to continue to enjoy bringing out what I have inside me, to try to excite people with my football. I am very happy to continue doing what I like. Hopefully it won't just be a call-up,” he said.

Grateful to his family, who never “let him down” in bad times, Isco joked about the reaction of his children after the call-up to the national team. “They are more excited to see me with Lamine than to see me with 'la Roja'.”

“I have the feeling of coming to a place that loves you, that gives you confidence, where I can reconnect with the Isco of my childhood, who enjoyed football very much. My secret is to enjoy what I do because life can hit you when you least expect it. I went through the injury process, I had to have surgery twice because the first time the plate didn't grip well. Another bump I overcame, it caught me at an age and maturity that helped me”, he reflected.