Luka Modric has revelled in the adoration of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd for over 11 years, but his legendary stint at Real Madrid could finally be coming to an end this season.
There had been rumours suggesting that Modric would depart the Spanish capital prior to the summer’s transfer window upon the expiration of his deal, but the 38-year-old signed a one-year contract extension in late June, taking his stay at the club to 2024.
However, Modric has been used sparingly by Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian coach has insisted that the veteran midfielder remains an important part of his squad, but the former Tottenham Hotspur man is struggling to adapt to his bit-part role.
With frustration over his lack of minutes, could Modric leave Real Madrid in the January transfer window?
Carlo Ancelotti recently rebuffed the idea that Modric would be considering a January exit, insisting: “I don’t think Modric is considering leaving in January. He is still very important and we are happy with him.”
However, when Modric was himself quizzed on Ancelotti’s comments, he did little to reassure his club coach. The midfielder stated: “There’s still a long time to go until the winter and the end of the year, at my age it’s hard to predict anything in the long term.
“We have to go from game to game and we’ll see what the future will bring.”
Modric has admitted to struggling over a lack of minutes already this season. “It’s certainly a new situation for me not to play as much as before and as much as I’d like,” said the 38-year-old.
“I always want to play, I don’t want to have breaks, I don’t want to have vacations, I want to play because that’s when I feel the best and that’s how I prepare best for matches.”
Modric has been unwilling to verbally commit his future to Real Madrid after seeing even fewer minutes than he did last season. Given his irrefutable quality in spite of his advanced age, there will be plenty of suitors for the five-time Champions League winner should he look for a new club this winter.
Modric has featured in nine of 11 Real Madrid matches this season, although he has more often than not found himself starting on the bench.
Out of the seven La Liga games he has played this campaign, just three have been starts. In one of those, Modric was hooked at half-time in a 3-1 defeat to city rivals Atletico Madrid, while being substituted before 80 minutes in his other two starts.
In Madrid’s two Champions League matches, Modric only started against Union Berlin, managing just 25 minutes in the clash with Napoli two weeks later.
In his nine appearances this season, Modric has averaged just 43 minutes per game. During the 2022/23 campaign, albeit over a longer period, Modric averaged 61 minutes per appearance, highlighting just how significantly his game time has decreased.
Ancelotti has favoured a more youthful midfield this season, phasing out the likes of Modric and Toni Kroos in favour of Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde.
While Modric is unlikely to rock up at another elite-level club side, there will still be plenty of options for the 2018 Balon d’Or winner.
One of those is his first professional team, Dinamo Zagreb. A return to Croatia could be on the cards after Zagreb’s president Vlatka Peras insisted that her side would do everything in their power to bring Modric back to the club he represented 95 times at the beginning of his career.
Modric won three Croatian league titles and two cups with Dinamo before making a move to Tottenham in 2008. It would prove a major coup for the Europa Conference League side and an emotional return for the Madrid legend.
Inter Miami in Major League Soccer have also been touted with interest in Modric. David Beckham’s American franchise are keen on adding another superstar to their impressive squad, with Lionel Messi reportedly interested in playing with the Croatian maestro.
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