Painful, but necessary. Luka Modric’s departure from Real Madrid hurts because he is a club legend and a player who, without making much noise and through hard work and talent, has won over the fans. Fans bid him farewell at the Santiago Bernabéu with honors, but also aware that the club is undergoing a change of cycle and that it was time for the Croatian to step aside and make way for new talent that can grow as he did at the club.
Luka Modric arrived at Real Madrid more than a decade ago and leaves as the player with the most titles in the club’s history, with 28 to his name, in addition to that Ballon d’Or. He bid farewell to his fans with a now legendary phrase: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. HALA MADRID AND NOTHING ELSE.” That was Modric’s sentiment after more than a decade with the club.
Real Madrid is already looking for his replacement
If Toni Kroos’ departure left a gap that Real Madrid has not been able to fill in his year of absence, Luka Modric’s departure exacerbates the problem in the center of the field for the white team. During this season, in which the Croatian has already rationed his minutes, the team has lacked a compass, a playmaker who has kept the defense and attack connected. The link was missing, and the Whites’ play has not been fluid throughout the season.
Now, with Modric’s departure, the void is twofold, and Real Madrid is looking for one or more reinforcements for the wide areas of the pitch. The first and simplest option for the Whites is to bring back Nico Paz from Italian side Como with the buy-back clause set for this first year, which is $8 million. The player has excelled under Cesc Fábregas, becoming the best young player in Serie A this season. The Argentine wants to play a leading role, and Xabi has already assured him that he will not be warming the bench, so his arrival seems imminent.
The other option being considered by Real Madrid is to sign Angelo Stiller. The German player has a very similar profile to Toni Kroos, with great vision complemented by defensive work. The player likes the club and wants to play at the Santiago Bernabéu, so all that remains is to negotiate with Stuttgart, who could set a starting price of around €40-50 million.
Modric’s future away from Real Madrid
Modric is leaving Real Madrid, but not to retire, as he wants to play in next summer’s World Cup with Croatia. The midfielder is looking for a new team and has no shortage of suitors. It was thought that he would be heading to the MLS, although there has also been speculation that a LaLiga team such as Getafe was interested in the talented and experienced player.
Now, a new interest has emerged in the market that wants to sign the player. That club is Milan. Marco Guidi reports that sporting director Igli Tare and coach Massimiliano Allegri have already put the Croatian’s name on the table. La Gazzetta dello Sport even mentions the pros, his quality and the fact that he would not be too expensive, and the cons, his age, to sign the player who wants to continue at the highest level and San Siro would not be a bad destination to reach his best form for the World Cup.
“The Croatian midfielder is totally open to a move to the Rossoneri: that’s why Milan are very confident, as they can close the signing of Luka Modric in the next 24 hours, 48 at the most,” explains Sky Italia, for example.