Former Barcelona star Rivaldo has urged the club to make a shock swoop for Real Madrid‘s Isco.

The playmaker has been struggling for playing time under new manager Santiago Solari, and had a dust-up with the Madrid fans on Wednesday as he was whistled and jeered during the team’s shock 3-0 loss at home to CSKA Moscow.

Rivaldo acknowledged that it would be difficult to see such a transfer happening given the fierce rivalry between the two clubs, but added that Isco and Barcelona would be a good fit.

“If you ask me if I would like to see Isco in Barcelona, I would say yes,” Rivaldo told UK press.

“He is an excellent player and I think both the club and the player could do with it.

“Anyway, it is a complicated proposal, it is difficult to imagine two great rivals negotiating the transfer of a player.”

Addressing Isco’s relationship with the Madrid faithful, Rivaldo said: “He was on the radar of the fans. You have to look forward and forget about this whole situation.”

Rivaldo also weighed in on Madrid’s poor start to the season, which has seen Los Blancos lose five times in 15 La Liga games – including a 5-1 defeat to Barcelona – and twice in the Champions League.

The Brazilian believes Madrid have failed to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus in the summer.

“Real Madrid clearly need a striker, a player capable of scoring regularly,” he said.

“After the departure of Ronaldo, the team lost offensive power and now is the time to strengthen the squad, before the real start of the Champions League.”