Over the last few seasons, Real Madrid has begun its transition to a new era. Almost all of the veteran players from the old generation have departed the club in recent years. Younger talent has arrived and replaced them, signalling the passing of the torch to the next generation, who are expected to achieve as much or more success than the previous generation.
Players like Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, and Karim Benzema, all of whom were key players to incredible success, have departed for the next step of their careers and were replaced by the likes of Eder Militao, Alvaro Carreras, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Kylian Mbappe as the club shapes the team for the future years to come.
Another veteran player who departed just last summer was Luka Modric. The Croatia captain headed to AC Milan, as the club believed his time at the top had come to an end and preferred to go with younger midfielders in the squad. Unfortunately, the board and Xabi Alonso could not have been more wrong with this assessment.
The Croat has been one of the best stories of the season, showing that age is just a number and that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. His stats are showing exactly why Real may regret letting the midfielder go.
Real Madrid still ruing Luka Modric sale
At the age of 40 years old, Modric is the fourth-highest average-rated player in all of Serie A this season. The Croatian has played 1, 916 minutes for AC Milan, the most of any player, and has managed to grab two goals, including the winner in last night's 2-1 win over Pisa, and three assists, and is one of the most crucial members in the Rossoneri's side that are pushing for the title this season.
Modric is clearly rolling back the years and reminding Real of it. He is the exact kind of profile the team has been lacking this season, not only in terms of his playing style, but also in his deep-lying playmaking abilities and in controlling the tempo. Also, in his leadership qualities, which arguably may be more important. The squad is desperately lacking an established veteran leader that the younger generation will listen to, and that has been one of the biggest problems with Los Blancos this season.
Modric is loved by all Madridistas, and all of them pointed out that the club were making a mistake by letting the Croatian leave. It seems, once again, the fans were right. The club's board has made some questionable decisions over the last few years, and the decision to let their legendary Croat depart is at the top of the list and should serve as a wake-up call to think more carefully before making similar calls.