Real Madrid: It’s great to have Luka Modric for one more year
Real Madrid fans were unsure if Luka Modric would leave the club this summer, but the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner will reportedly stay at the Santiago Bernabeu for one more year.
There are few midfields in the world that can stand toe-to-toe with Real Madrid’s, whether they start three, four, or five men in the middle of the park. Los Blancos have midfielders who combine hard work and technical quality to overwhelm the opposition, and Luka Modric has long been at the heart of their success.
That’s why it was so awesome to see Modric produce a bounce-back season in another full campaign under Zinedine Zidane‘s guidance. The disappointment of his 2018-2019 campaign was well in the past, as Modric proved he still has more than enough in the tank to go a full 90 minutes, even making blistering, goal-producing runs in the final 15 minutes of matches.
Although there was speculation that Modric could leave to the MLS or even Serie A at the end of the 2019-2020 season to conclude his career, Tomas Roncero of AS reports that the Croatian star will remain in Madrid for the duration of his contract.
That means Real will get at least one more season from Modric, who will be in the squad for the 2020-2021 season. It’s unclear what his role will be, because Toni Kroos is still playing at an elite level, Isco has returned to form, Fede Valverde has become a must-start, and Martin Odegaard could join the squad.
However, Modric showed last season that with his technical quality, industry defensively, and ability to score bangers from nowhere, he remains a starting-caliber option. He won’t be a regular starter, but the 34-year-old will become an important and stabilizing presence in the squad. Modric’s presence should only benefit Odegaard and Valverde as they continue to grow from young stars into true superstars.
dark. Next. Real Madrid can't count on Haaland's availability
It’s great to hear that Modric will stay with Real Madrid for one more season. He’s beloved by fans and a true legend of the club. Like Karim Benzema, Modric loves the club and will step aside once he feels he can no longer play to the level required, as he doesn’t want to hold back young players. But as we saw last season, he still has one more season left in him. We’ll be sure to enjoy it.