Rumours grow as Real Madrid exit looks inevitable

A decade ago when Luka Modric arrived from Tottenham Hotspur as a 27-year-old midfielder, the Croatian was voted as the worst summer signing in La Liga. Since then, he has emerged as a superstar, won a Ballon d’Or and helped Real Madrid win 23 trophies over the years, including five Champions League titles and he played a significant role in all of those campaigns.

Now 38 years old, he is finding life at the club difficult as youngsters like Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni are preferred over him in the starting XI. Modric last started in a game for Los Blancos in the Madrid derby, where he was substituted after the first 45 minutes. Since then, he had to watch two games in a row from the bench and was brought on as a second-half substitute against Napoli.

The last time Modric missed two games in a row for Real Madrid was in his first season when Jose Mourinho was still the manager of the club. It was because he did not have the required pre-season training.

This season though the story has been different for the Croatian international as there is significant competition for a place in midfield. Veterans like Toni Kroos and himself have to compete against youngsters like Camavinga, Tchouameni and Fede Valverde. Jude Bellingham is undroppable in the number 10 role.

Rumours grow as Real Madrid exit looks inevitable

With this recent struggle to get into the starting lineup, Modric is rumoured to be unhappy and has been linked heavily with a move to Inter Miami to team up with Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. A switch to the Saudi Pro League is also believed to be an option.

As reported by AS, Pedja Mijatovic said about Modric’s situation to the Spanish radio show El Larguero:

"“You can completely understand why Modric is upset. He has chosen to stay, he is going through a difficult time – the first time he’s experienced something like this since he arrived, but Modric is a player who always lifts himself up.”"

Unless Modric’s playing time increases significantly, it is hard to see him have a future at Real Madrid. He is 38 years of age now and unfortunately, it looks like his Santiago Bernabeu exit is getting closer.