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9 months ago
54 ARTICLE AD
When spring arrives, the future of Luka Modric systematically comes to the forefront and for good reason. It has been several years since Real Madrid, as it has become accustomed to with its older players, has extended the Croatian star for a season. However, if we trust the Spanish media, this season seems to be the last under the Merengue colors, he who arrived in the Spanish capital during the summer of 2012.
But the 2018 Ballon d’Or, who is now 38 years old, has obviously still not planned to hang up his boots and we can understand this in view of his still impressive level. And inevitably information about its future is multiplying in the Spanish media. For some, he could join Carlo Ancelotti’s staff, for others, he will leave Casa Blanca for an unexpected destination (Saudi Arabia, Dinamo Zagreb?).
Carlo Ancelotti wants to keep him
But as is often the case with a Luka Modric who is silent about his future, it is difficult to know… especially when he is performing a masterclass with Real Madrid at the age of 38. This was already the case at the end of February against Sevilla FC where he scored the only goal of the match. The opportunity then to receive praise and a big boost from Mister Carlo Ancelotti. “It’s in his hands. It depends on him. He’s a great guy, very humble, I love him. I don’t know if he wants to stay as a substitute. How can I help Modrić? It’s very difficult, I know what that means. I understand when Luka is sad, but that’s not the end of him. The whole world thinks that… but not him! He still has legs, energy. This is not the end of his career. Look at the quality!”
The Italian coach of Real, some of whom attributed some dissensions and tensions with Luka Modric, declared his love for the native of Zadar, inevitably frustrated by his playing time, he who still has 15 starts and 29 appearances between the Champions League and La Liga since the start of the season. Moreover, during the last championship match against Celta Vigo this Sunday (4-0 victory), he started and lit up the match as during his finest hours in Madrid. 119 balls touched, 8 key passes, 86 successful passes, 4 successful tackles, 7 recoveries, 6 interceptions, in short, a masterclass.
A legendary record to convince him to stay?
From then on, seeing Luka Modric one more season at Real seems less and less far-fetched. Carlo Ancelotti knows that Modric even at his age is invaluable and that it will be very difficult for him to replace him. The ball is therefore in the court of the player who could well decide to continue a thirteenth season in Madrid for a simple reason, that of entering a little further into the history of the club.
If he cannot claim to become the foreign player to have played the most matches at Real (this record is held by Karim Benzema with 439 matches played, Modric only has 350), he can become if he remains an additional season the oldest player to play a match with Casa Blanca. A record previously held by Ferenc Puskas who played his last match with Madrid at 39 years and 36 days old. To overtake the Madrid legend, he will have to play a match on October 15, 2024. A sufficient objective to make him stay one more year in Madrid and evolve with Kylian Mbappé? Response in the coming weeks.
