Isco: I turned down the Premier League for Real Madrid, and this is what I like most about Mourinho

The Spanish striker speaks about the behind-the-scenes details of his move to Real Madrid

Carlos Espí has lifted the lid on his summer switch from Levante to Real Madrid, revealing that the Spanish giants' offer left him no room for thought despite interest from the Premier League.

The 21-year-old forward opened up on life under José Mourinho, praising the way the Portuguese coach has handled him and nurtured his development. Mourinho, he said, keeps urging him to be patient and to seize every chance that comes his way.

"Everything that has happened to me is unbelievable, no one expected it, not even my family, and now I have to keep working," Espí told SER radio's "El Larguero" programme. "It is hard to take all of this in because it is happening so fast, you have to be ready because this will not stop".

On his move from Levante to the Bernabeu, he told Marca: "There were options to move to the Premier League, but when Real Madrid's offer came, I could not say no. Everything happened very quickly, and it was all completed within two days".

His bond with Mourinho clearly runs deep. "I will try to make the most of every minute the coach gives me. What I like most about Mourinho is his brilliance, how easy he is to communicate with, and how strict his demands are. His concern for me and his telling me what is good and what is bad is extremely important to me," he said.

"Mourinho tells me that I must be patient, and that I must make the most of every minute and every opportunity, and this is achieved through working every day. Every minute he gives me is worth its weight in gold," he continued.

Then there is Kylian Mbappé. Espí hailed his French teammate and admitted he soaks up everything he can in training. "Kylian Mbappé is an amazing player. In every training session I try to learn from him and his advice. He is the best in the world, and in my opinion he deserved the Ballon d'Or".

"What impresses me most is how skilful he is, his speed and his dribbling ability. It is an honour for me to train with him," he concluded.