Luka Modric will go down in the history books as one of the best players to ever wear the Real Madrid jersey. He is 37 years of age though, and sooner or later, he will need to be replaced in the middle of the park. Although with the way that the Croatian is going, it would not be a surprise if he continued to play at the top level till he is 40.
It looks like Carlo Ancelotti has his eyes on a player who was dubbed as the ‘new Modric’ during his early career though.
Napoli have arguably been the best team in Europe this season. Not only did they top their Champions League group but they are also leading the Serie A table by 8 points already. And one of the key parts of their side has been Stanislav Lobotka.
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, when asked about Real Madrid’s alleged interest in Lobotka, Italian journalist Valter De Maggio said:
"“A little bird told me that Ancelotti wants Lobotka at Real Madrid.”"
Real Madrid linked with midfielder once dubbed ‘new Modric’
Real Madrid have one of the best midfields in Europe right now but it might end up needing a refresh in the near future.
As mentioned earlier, Modric is 37 years of age. There have been suggestions that Toni Kroos could decide to hang up his boots at the end of the season. And Dani Ceballos could depart Santiago Bernabeu as well, with his contract running out in the summer of 2023.
It is safe to say that Lobotka has made his mark at Napoli, and some rumours have even suggested that he is close to agreeing a contract extension with the Italian club. Of course, if that ended up happening, it would make any move to Real Madrid tougher to pull off. As things stand, the Slovakian international’s current deal runs out in the summer of 2025.