There are things to consider here. Isco having a preference does not mean he has signed anything in writing, it could go from a verbal agreement to a handshake or not even that. From the way things have been reported there is no mention of a pre-contract agreement or anything like that to suggest a deal being done with him, just that there were talks and he responded positively to them.
So as much as there have been discussions to convince him to come there will also have been contract negotiations with him and his agent in the past week or so. As we know from past experience these can take days, maybe even weeks as every fine detail has to be covered and agreed upon. What seems like a positive reaction can change when getting down to nitty gritty details. Basic wage, bonuses, length of contract, yearly triggers in the contract, release clauses, image rights, sponsorship and merchandise requirements these all have to be considered and agreed upon. Before the U21s Madrid were not a noisy factor in this, now they are.
We also have to deal with Malaga. Pellegrini seemed to take a while to be sorted and the same may happen here, it could be the way they want to do business with us. We will have had to have agreed a deal with them, a payment structure and if we have it will be along Madrid's rate. This all takes time and is serious stuff, it's not just "Please make your mind up Isco".
Once we reach the stage of 2 contracts being agreed upon in principle, which I think from the reports sounds like it could only have happened this weekend if at all yet, then Isco has some life and career changing decisions to make. He's a year out from a world cup. Now unless several players ahead of him in the queue get injured then it's unlikely he'll go, so he has to look at 2018, 5 years away, probably the end of his first contract at his new club.
He has a big decision to make. Does he come to City, in England, and risk leaving Spain to prove himself as a first team regular. Does he immerse himself in an entirely different culture, and leave his familiarity of home, maybe his family and definately his friends behind? Let's not ignore the fact that many of his friends are Barca B, Madrid, Ex-Madrid or Castilla players and that will have a large sway in his decision as he will want to feel comfortable where he's living. Yes we have Spanish speakers but how well does Isco know them and are they the same age group? No, not really.
If he comes here he plays regularly but has the above to think about. He also has to think about his career aims, will he, like Silva, be overlooked by Spain for not playing at Madrid or Barca? Will he think that the young lads coming through at those two teams will get preference because they're at the two Spanish giants? He may have to sit on the bench at times in Madrid but he will have strong self belief as he's a talented player so will believe he's good enough to step up there and earn his spot, and Madrid will give him that stage to shine, he'll be at an elite club and at some point in his career he may feel he wants to play at either Barca or Real, and with Barca's policy it will be easier for him to go to Madrid.
If he gets to 1 year left on his contract here is he going to want to go home? If he really wants to play for one of those clubs is it wise moving here? He has an offer on the table now to go there and if he comes here and his stock rises further will the Spanish giants ever be able to agree a deal with us especially as we become an elite club with them? It will be more difficult, so he has to factor in how he wants his career to pan out. Knowing how Txiki made sure Navas was happy to come here by forcing all the negatives about Manchester and England on him and judging his responses, maybe Isco doesn't want that on reflection. Perhaps he wants to have a nice, Spanish lifestyle in the capital playing for one of the top two teams, you can't begrudge him that career and life choice.
He has a very difficult decision, probably the biggest one he'll ever make so no surprise if he takes his time and errs on the cautious side.
