Spanish midfielder Isco Alarcón said he alone is responsible for what he called his “failure” at Real Madrid, acknowledging that poor mental form and a prolonged personal slump undermined his performances during his 2013–2022 spell at the Bernabéu. In an interview published by France Football, the 33-year-old recalled that his situation deteriorated under then-coach Santiago Solari in the 2018-19 season, adding that he “didn’t know how to recover” at the time. Now captain of Real Betis and recently recalled to Spain’s national team, Isco said he is experiencing “one of the happiest periods” of his career, having contributed 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign. Looking ahead, he stated that his final objective is to “leave football before football leaves me,” underscoring his determination to control the timing of his retirement.