October 3, 2021 - The latest on the Luka Modrić Real Madrid contract extension as Marca reports the Croatia captain could stay at the royal club beyond 2022.

Gol.hr reports that Croatia captain Luka Modrić signed with Real until 2022. However, Spanish sports daily Marca wrote in the text entitled "Luka Modrić: To Infinity and Beyond" that he could stay at the club after the summer of 2022, i.e., extend his contract for another year when his current contract expires.

"Modrić agreed to a lower salary as he realized his dream and ended his career at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner plans to play for another two or three years and is still a key player at Real although his replacements Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camaving are ready," writes Marca. 

"He is physically in better shape than in previous years. Last year he was fantastic with 48 games played, and that is why Real is planning to fulfill his dream and allow him to conclude his career with a contract until the summer of 2023. There are no official negotiations yet, but the club is open to that idea."

If Modrić succeeds, it will be good news for Croatia because the captain will not have to look for a new club for the last season of his playing career and appearance at the World Cup in Qatar. Recall that the World Cup will be played in the winter of 2022, and since Luka has a valid contract until the summer of next year, he would have to sign with another club for a year if he leaves Madrid, all to be in shape for Croatia in Qatar.

If he signs a new contract with Real, he will end his career in Madrid and be ready for the World Cup there.

He would also get the honor Zidane received last - playing his final official match in a Real Madrid jersey.

This honor was not given to many legends like Sergio Ramos, Raul, or Iker Casillas, who had to conclude their famous careers elsewhere. The last to do so was the legendary Zizou, though the Croatia national team captain could follow in his footsteps.

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May 25, 2021 - As has been communicated by Real Madrid and confirmed by the Croatian midfielder on his social networks, Luka Modrić has renewed his Real Madrid contract and will wear white for one more season, thus completing ten years with the team in 2022.

Marca.com announced in December 2020 that the renewal agreement had already been closed and that it would become official once the season was over. Luka Modrić will continue for one more season, although without knowing who will be his last coach before the imminent departure of Zinedine Zidane from Real Madrid. The Spanish team has a renewal policy in which it can only renew its players over 30 years of age for an additional year, but this has not been an impediment to Modrić, who had previously communicated his plans to retire at Real Madrid.

The renewal agreement does not include a salary improvement (due among other things to the financial situation of the club), but Florentino Pérez considered it appropriate to retain the Croatian midfielder as he is one of the best players in the team and that, despite not achieving a title this season, he showed great performance throughout it.

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A post shared by Luka Modric (@lukamodric10)

Modrić arrived in 2012, from Tottenham, and despite not having the immediate support of Madrid fans, who doubted his signing, the Croatian midfielder became a legend of the team, standing out for his dedication both in the attack when scoring and assisting in decisive goals, and in his defensive duties as well. He has won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018), two Spanish La Liga titles, among other local and European competitions.

During his time in the team, Modrić was trained by various coaches: Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benitez, Zinedine Zidane, Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari. To this day, and at 35 years old, the Croatian continues to be the undisputed starter in the midfield of the Spanish team, proving not only that he still maintains his great footballing level, but that he is also in a great physical condition.

Currently, the captain of the Croatia national team has his sights set on EURO 2020, to be played in June. Today he will join the rest of those selected by Zlatko Dalić, but the Zadar-born midfielder could not hide his joy by sharing a post on his social media posing with the Real Madrid jersey and thus confirming his renewal for an additional season. ''Happy and proud to continue wearing the shirt of the best team in the world", he wrote on his social networks.

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March 19, 2021 - Croatian footballers Luka Modrić and Mislav Oršić were brilliant in UEFA competitions this week, earning them Player of the Week recognitions!

What a week it was for Croatian football and footballers. 

Mislav Oršić played a fantastic match in the sensational Dinamo comeback against Tottenham on Thursday night at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb. 

Praise came from all sides; even the great Gary Lineker congratulated Oršić on the hat-trick after the game. 

"Blimey. Spurs have blown it. No words... other than to say what a hattrick from Mislav Orsic."

Oršić's 10/10 match not only brought Dinamo a historic result and spot in the Europa League quarterfinals, but UEFA recognized the 28-year-old as the Europa League player of the week!  

In the selection, Oršić surpassed the star of Ajax, David Neres, Romino Borja Mayoral (former Real player), and Gerard Moreno, the great, 35 million euro Villarreal striker, against whom Dinamo will meet in the quarterfinals.

"Goals? They mean a lot to me. I didn't sleep all night because of the adrenaline; I couldn't close my eyes," Oršić said the day after the game.

The masterclass of Luka Modrić and his age-defying skill didn't go unnoticed against Atalanta on Tuesday in Real Madrid's 3:1 victory. So much so that the 35-year-old was named the Champions League player of the week!

Luka was the assistant for Real's leading goal and played a significant role in the deserved Madrid win. 

SPORTBible couldn't go without praising Modrić either, sharing a compilation of the Croatia captain ruling Atalanta. 

"Goals from Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Marco Asensio ensured Atalanta would exit the competition at the round-of-16 stage.

But Modric stole the show as he scooped the Man of the Match award thanks to a dazzling performance in Europe's elite club competition.

The 35-year-old Croatian midfielder rolled back the years as he pulled the strings from the midfield, setting up Benzema for Madrid's opener in the first half.

Modric's show-stealing performance wasn't unnoticed by fans, who took to social media to laud him for his brilliance on the pitch," said SPORTbible. 

Luka Modrić vs Atalanta pic.twitter.com/2ykTN5ohg7

— Thiago ? (@HMDComps) March 16, 2021

Bravo to Luka and Mislav! 

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December 28, 2020 - Spanish national daily sports newspaper Marca has brought the Croatia captain back in the spotlight, stating that Luka Modric will stay at Real Madrid with a new contract until the end of June 2022.

The #10 Real Madrid jersey will remain in possession of the 35-year-old Croatia national team captain, Luka Modric, for at least another year and a half, until the end of June 2022, after verbally agreeing with the club's leaders on a new, one-year contract that he will soon sign, reported Marca.

The agreement between Modric and Real, which will allow the best Croatian footballer to spend the entire decade in Madrid, was quite simple compared to the negotiations with other stars of the Madrid club, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos.

Namely, the Croatian midfielder did not insist on a two-year contract and was ready to reduce his salary, which currently brings him 10 million euro a year. This will help the club overcome the economic difficulties caused by the pandemic, which took about 25 percent of total revenues from Real Madrid or around 200 million euro.

Although he will be close to his 36th birthday on the eve of the new season, Luka Modric is still in top form and makes a visible difference in Real's game when he is on the pitch, which made it easier for club leaders to continue cooperation.

At the insistence of the then Real coach Jose Mourinho, Luka Modric arrived in Madrid from Tottenham London on the penultimate day of the transfer window in August 2012 for 35 million euro. How correct Mourinho's assessment of Modric's quality is proved by looking at the Real Madrid trophy room, which during Modric's time at the club was enriched with four titles in the Champions League, two triumphs in the Spanish championship, one in the King's Cup, three European Super Cup and three FIFA World Club Champion titles.

Modric's current contract with Real, which is valid until the end of June 2021, was actually meant to last until June 30, 2020. However, as the captain of the current World Cup finalists was named the best player in the world in 2018, the club automatically activated another year. It secured Luka's 35th birthday celebration as a Real Madrid player.

Just how much Luka's age is a non-issue is also shown by the statistics of performances this season, in which he collected more than half of the minutes he received last season in the first three months. Although he spared Modric at the beginning of the season, Zinedine Zidane soon realized that his team has a better dynamic with Luka on the pitch, and Luka has collected 1410 minutes so far, which is 75 percent of the maximum possible minutes.

The only championship game he did not play was the last against Granada, which he missed due to tightening in the thigh muscle, which interrupted his series of ten consecutive games in the starting lineup. In that series, his level of play was extremely high, especially in games against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, in the city derby against Atletico, and against Eibar, when he scored in the 3-1 away victory.

There is no doubt that Modric, both this season and next, will be one of the mainstays in the tactical settings of Zinedine Zidane. At the same time, with his example and advice, he will be a mentor to 22-year-old Norwegian Martin Odegaard, who returned from loan at Real Sociedad, and whose football talent and abilities resemble the Croatia captain.

Source: HRT

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December 11, 2020 - Another great recognition for Croatia's greatest footballer, as FIFA FIFPro names Luka Modric among the world's 55 best footballers for the 8th time. 

HNS announces that the Croatia national football team captain, Luka Modric, is on the list of 55 footballers who have been shortlisted for the best team in the selection of the International Association of Professional Footballers FIFPro and the International Football Federation FIFA.

Modric is on the shortlist of the best players for the eighth time and has the opportunity to be among the best eleven, an honor that FIFPro has chosen since 2005, for the sixth time in a row. Modric was selected in the top 11 in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. About 25,000 professional footballers from all over the world choose the best team of the season consisting of one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders, and three strikers.

The fifty-five shortlisted players include goalkeepers Alisson Becker (Liverpool, Brazil), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium) David de Gea (Manchester United, Spain), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan, Italy), Moraes Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil) ), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham, France), Keylor Navas (PSG, Costa Rica), Manuel Neuer (Bayern, Germany), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid, Slovenia) and Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona, Germany).

Defenders include David Alaba (Bayern, Austria), Jordi Alba (Barcelona, ​​Spain), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham, Belgium), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool, England), Dani Alves (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Jerome Boateng (Bayern, Germany), Alphonso Davies (Bayern, Canada), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, The Netherlands), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli, Senegal), Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus, The Netherlands), Marcelo (Real Madrid, Brazil), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid, Spain), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool, Scotland), Thiago Silva (Chelsea, Brazil) and Raphael Varane (Real Madrid, France).

Midfielders include Thiago Alcantara (Bayern / Liverpool, Spain), Dele Alli (Tottenham, England), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona, ​​Spain), Casemiro (Real Madrid, Brazil), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern / Barcelona, ​​Brazil), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, Portugal), Leon Goretzka (Bayern, Germany), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool, England), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona, ​​The Netherlands), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea, France), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern, Germany), Luka Modrić (Real Madrid, Croatia) and Thomas Müller (Bayern, Germany).

The srikers are Sergio Agüero (Manchester City, Argentina), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal, Gabon), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, France), Serge Gnabry (Bayern, Germany), Erling Haaland (Borussia D., Norway) , Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Milan, Sweden), Harry Kane (Tottenham, England), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern, Poland), Sadio Mane (Liverpool, Senegal), Kylian Mbappe (PSG, France), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Neymar Junior (PSG, Brazil), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus, Portugal), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt) and Son Heungmin (Tottenham, South Korea).

The FIFA and FIFPro best eleven in the 2019/20 season will be announced on December 17, 2020. 

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July 22, 2020 - In his latest interview, Luka Modric spoke honestly about Real Madrid and where he plans to continue his career.

Luka Modric is resting in Croatia after winning the Spanish title with Real Madrid for the second time in his career. The captain of the Croatia national team interviewed for Sportske novosti, in which he commented on the situation at Real Madrid and the end of the season.

He expressed satisfaction with the title, and also commented on the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, the unfortunate injury of Eden Hazard, the status of Karim Benzema, and the young hopes off the bench such as Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde. It was Valverde who was marked as the 'new Modrić', that is, he is often substituted on for the Croatian midfielder.

At one point, the Spanish media began to highlight Luka's age and write that his time had already passed. Modric revealed that he also talked to Zidane about why Valverde is playing, and not him.

"Zidane told me that he was very pleased with my work, my approach, and that I should just continue like that. He had no doubts about my abilities; he just told me honestly that at that moment, he has a different vision of what is best for the team. I accepted that attitude and rolled up my sleeves. I was still full of motivation and desire to show myself, as I was the first day I came to Madrid. Later, everything fell into place," revealed Modric, who, even at the age of 34, looks powerful and pleases the crowd with his extraordinary skill.

Age, strength, and knowledge are not in dispute at all. Luka Modric can continue at a very high pace for several more years. He has repeatedly mentioned that he would like to retire at Real.

"And who wouldn't?! But it remains to be seen whether the club will want it. Real is my home, but Real decides what is best for the club. I know midfielders or strikers rarely stay here until they are 35 years old. I succeeded and it was not given to me, but I deserved it with my work and behavior. If Real estimates that I am no longer the one, I am ready for that unwanted option as well. Nothing would change my emotion towards the club. Although, I hope to break the stereotype that you can't end your career at Real after a certain age - 34, 35. I tried very hard to get to Real, I went through everything and I will not give up that status lightly. I will fight on the pitch to deserve to stay," said Modric and added:

"The only sure thing is that I will play for Real until June 2021, and after that? At my age, I don't think much about it, haha... We'll see. Let's go step by step. I’m not at the beginning of my career, but I feel like I have a few more years of real football in my legs. I’m 100 percent sure I still want to play. I have the same motives for training, fighting, sacrificing to win and trophies. The most important thing is that my health serves me," concluded the Croatia captain. 

You can read the full interview here.

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July 17, 2020 - Croatia national team captain and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric played an essential role in the victory that confirmed the new champion of Spain.

Real Madrid mathematically confirmed the Spanish title with a 2-1 victory against Villarreal on Thursday night.

Karim Benzema scored both of Madrid's goals in the match, and Luka Modric assisted the first. Iborra scored for Villarreal.

Real took the lead in the 29th minute. Casemiro found Modric, who pushed the ball into the penalty area with a timely lay off for Benzema, who scored for the 1-0 lead.

Real increased their lead in the 77th minute thanks to a penalty won by Sergio Ramos. Real's captain stepped up to the penalty spot and cunningly played Benzema, who scored, though his goal was disallowed as he entered the penalty area before Ramos touched the ball.

A repeated attempt was made by Benzema, who hit accurately for 2-0.

Villarreal reduced Madrid's lead in the 83rd minute, and could have scored again had Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois not saved Real on several occasions.

Marco Asensio scored for 3-1 in added time, though the goal was called back due to handball.

??? ¡La foto de los CAMPEONES de @LaLiga 2019/20!#34Ligas | #RealFootball pic.twitter.com/k0Ss0xk6Kw

— Real Madrid C.F.⚽ (@realmadrid) July 16, 2020

One round before the end, the Royal Club has an unattainable seven-point advantage over Barcelona, who lost at home to Osasuna (1-2).

Osasuna took the lead through Arnaiz in the 15th minute, Messi equalized in the 62nd minute, and Roberto Torres shocked Barcelona in added time and resolved all doubts about the new champion.

This is Real Madrid's 34th Spanish title. Real won their last title in 2017, also under the leadership of Zinedine Zidane. The Madrid club came to the new title thanks to a fantastic defense that received 23 goals in 37 league games and with only three defeats.

One of the key players of Blancos was again Luka Modric, who led the team with his brilliant play, especially after the championship resumed after the break caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the continuation of La Liga on June 14, Real have recorded nine victories, thus leading ahead of Barcelona. Eibar, Valencia, Real Sociedad, Mallorca, Espanyol, Getafe, Athletic Bilbao, Alaves, Granada and Villarreal. 

This is Luka's second Spanish championship title since joining Real Madrid in 2012. Luka Modric and this Real Madrid generation are now the second most celebrated group of players in the club's 118-year history.

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July 14, 2020 - The captain of the Croatian national football team, Luka Modric, played all 90 minutes in Real Madrid's away victory against Granada, which was a pertinent win in their fight for the Spanish title.

HRT writes that two rounds before the end of the championship, Real is four points ahead of Barcelona, and in three days in Madrid, they will have the opportunity to secure the 34th Spanish title by winning against Villarreal.

Luka Modric received special praise for his first half against Granada, in which he conducted the game from the midfield, served his teammates accurately, and was timely in defense.

"Where the greats fall and score hard, he assisted two goals in the first 15 minutes. Zidane placed him behind Benzema and placed Casemiro as a guard for the Croat and the winger. This proved to be a complete hit as Granada spent the first half hour, during which Real scored both goals to win, hunting for shadows. Modric led the game from foot to foot, and by circling the ball quickly and precisely, he made for an elusive opponent," Marca wrote about Modric's play against Granada.

Along with Courtois, Ramos and Benzema, Modric received three stars for his performance.

MARCA: Someone needs to get Modric a new Real Madrid contract... and fast. Members of the old guard, like Ramos & Benzema, have been integral, but none stood out more than Luka on Monday night. Another vintage display & not far from his Ballon d'Or best. pic.twitter.com/AZIzvLIFFi

— M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) July 14, 2020

"The veteran was the best among the penalty areas. He entered the game brilliantly, which he proved by assisting both of Real's early goals. He was great with and without the ball. In the second half, when he was expected to fall under the pressure of years (34), he read the game best and was characterized by freshness. He looks great and is definitely back," added Marca.

"Modric may not be in the form he was in 2018 when he won the Ballon d'Or, but he is not far away. The 34-year-old played the game as in his best days at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes and may have pushed the decision of the Real Board of Directors. If his contract is not extended next year, he will leave Real," Marca wrote in an article entitled, "Someone should give Modric a new contract .. and quickly". 

Similarly, AS wrote that Modric was Real's best player, especially in the first half:

"He looked impressive and brilliant in every action with the ball in his feet. We are talking about a man who is practically 35 years old, but obviously has inexhaustible energy. "

Modric is Magic, Modric is timeless, Modric is simply a GOAT ?

— OMAR. (@Omaaar96) July 13, 2020

Real coach Zinedine Zidane gave Modric a slightly more offensive role in this match, the Croatian captain played right behind Karim Benzema.

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June 15, 2020 - Luka Modric revealed plans for his future to the Italian Gazzetta.

Gol.hr reports that the captain of the Croatia national team, Luka Modric, said in an interview with the newspaper La Gazetta dello Sport that he would play at a high level for another two years, and then attend a coaching course.

"I am sure I can play at a high level for another two years, after that we will see. I would like to finish my career at Real Madrid, but it will also depend on the club. After that, I will attend a coaching course," Modric said.

The midfielder is the oldest in the Real Madrid dressing room at the age of 34, and his contract expires in a year, on June 30, 2021.

"I feel like a normal person who loves modesty and moderation. I am persistent. My teammates in Madrid call me 'vinagre' (vinegar) because I do not accept defeat in training," said the Croatian captain.

He said that he would continue to play for Croatia, which is expected to play in the European Championships next summer.

"For us, the national team is more than football. As a player, and a coach, I would be honored to be there," he noted.

Last year, the media speculated about his possible departure to Milan when Zvonimir Boban, the former captain of the Croatia national team, was the director there. Still, Real Madrid and Boban himself said that there was nothing to that story.

"Boban was my idol when I was a boy, and I bought a red and black jersey because of him. I imagined myself a Milan player, but in the end, my path was different. And when you come to Real Madrid, you don't think about going to other clubs. If things didn't go well in Madrid, I would consider the Italian league. But, honestly, my only priority has always been Real Madrid," said Modric.

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March 1, 2020 - Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic will meet for the 18th time in El Classico tonight, to be played at 9 pm at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

It was March 2019, exactly a year ago. Barcelona won at the Bernabeu and Ivan Rakitic scored the only goal of the game, reports 24 Sata.

“Setien, don't forget about Raketa, he knows how to mess with Real,” read the headlines of Spanish media ahead of El Clasico on Sunday night.

And this is not by accident. Apart from the fact that Rakitic scored Barcelona's last goal against Madrid, and it has been exactly one year since then, but he has scored four goals in his career against Real Madrid. The only club he has scored more against is Real Betis, recording five goals total. Rakitic is gaining momentum once again, and has started for Barcelona in the last two games, against Eibar and Napoli. All signs lead to him starting again against Real Madrid tonight.

The 'Croatian El Clasico' returns for its 18th episode. 

The first collision of Rakitic and Modric was in September 2012. Then, Rakitic was a star in Seville, while Luka Modric was going through tough times at Real Madrid. In that match, Luka came off the bench for Mesut Özil. Sevilla won 1:0, and Rakitic and Modric exchanged jerseys. Since then, they have played against each other 17 times - Rakitic celebrated nine times, four games ended in a draw, and Modric won four times.

If we were to compare the two players in La Liga this year, then Luka is more successful. Modric started in 13 games this season, playing an average of 63 minutes per game and scoring three goals. Rakitic, on the other hand, has not scored a single goal this season, has started only in nine games, and is playing 46 minutes per game.

The match tonight is a massive step towards the La Liga title. If Barcelona wins, they will be five points ahead and push Real Madrid into even bigger problems, potentially resulting in a Zinedine Zidane sacking. 

Thus, the story of Ivan and Luka continues. The story of two friends, whose intertwined football journey began in September 2007, when Croatia beat Estonia 2:0.

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