The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner turned down interest from Saudi Arabia to extend his stay at Real Madrid, but has found himself in an unusual role this season.
Luka Modric finds it ‘strange’ watching Real Madrid from the bench, but he has no plans to leave the club because of it.
In 2022/23, Carlo Ancelotti limited Modric’s playing time in La Liga to just 19 starts. The manager has since taken things up a notch this season. He has benched Modric in three of the club’s four games, leaving the 37-year-old with only 133 minutes of football under his belt.
“Nobody is happy without playing. After my whole career it definitely feels strange,” Modric told Sportske Novosti.
“But the coach made that decision, and I won’t quit because of that. Quite the opposite, actually.”
Why did Modric stay in the summer?
In the summer, Modric rejected a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. The midfielder instead signed a one-year contract extension at Real Madrid, where he has been since 2012.
“They wanted me to stay, and my wish was the same,” he explained.
“My only requirement was to be treated as a competitive player. They told me that my status wouldn’t change. That’s why I signed.”
While he acknowledges the fierce competition for midfield spots, Modric is working hard to be one of the key players this season.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “If I’m not a relevant player in the near future, I will think about my next moves. I received other offers, but my goal was always to stay in Real Madrid.”
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