Zinedine Zidane says it is useless trying to read his mind when it comes to Isco after the Spaniard underlined his worth to Real Madrid against his former club Malaga.

Isco scored one and set up another at La Rosaleda in a comfortable 2-1 victory for a much-changed Real side, following Wednesday’s last-gasp Champions League win over Juventus.

Diego Rolan grabbed a consolation for Malaga with the last kick of the game but the result was never in doubt.

Isco has been in an out of Real’s team – with rumours growing that he could be up for sale in the summer – but did himself no harm with the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich looming next week.

“He has always been important, despite what everyone thinks,” Zidane said of Isco. “He is important, even if sometimes you think I have something else in my head.

“We are happy with [Isco’s] game, and with his goal. It is important to score sometimes too. He played a great game back home, and I am happy for him and the team.

“The fans here received him very well and he deserved that. He has been an important player for Malaga, and today he is for Madrid.”

Victory means Los Blancos leapfrog Valencia, who were beaten by Barcelona on Saturday, but remain four points behind Atletico Madrid in second.