Xabi Alonso wants Luka Modric to stay with the team. He communicated this to Florentino Pérez before his arrival at Real Madrid was made official, and he has done so again now, at a time when the Whites have a serious problem in midfield. His continuity would not alter the plans; the need to sign a creative midfielder would remain a priority and a necessity. In fact, the Croatian performs other functions.
Xabi Alonso and Modric
Xabi Alonso shared a locker room with Luka Modric, knew him well, and during these years apart, he has seen the player become a Real Madrid legend. Now he can enjoy him as a coach, but for a limited time. When the Club World Cup is over, it’s over, or so they say. The truth is that in this week and a half together, Xabi Alonso has been able to see first-hand that Luka Modric is more than capable of playing another season with the team and being an important part of the dressing room.
The quality and clarity with which Luka Modric sees the game are within the reach of very few players. He has been and continues to be one of the chosen few in this sport, and age does not seem to be taking its toll on him as he approaches his 40th birthday. Xabi Alonso knows that he has a special player who still has a lot to offer the team. He is a luxury substitute, a player capable of taking on a secondary role and who can be decisive in the final stages of a match, making the difference, as he did at the end of the league season, where he was one of the team’s standout players.
His quality was once again on display in the last game of the Club World Cup: he only played 10 minutes, but it was enough to continue demonstrating his quality, that he sees the game like no one else, and that he still has more than enough quality to be decisive for Real Madrid.
Modric and his contribution to the squad
But for Xabi Alonso, Luka Modric‘s contribution goes beyond the pitch. He is a role model both on and off the field, an example to follow within the team itself, a captain who works like no one else, who helps his teammates, who is committed to the younger players and who is always there when called upon, without ever complaining or making a fuss. He is all about Real Madrid.
In a squad with many young players, some with little hunger for titles, keeping veteran players who can make an impact in the dressing room is key for Xabi Alonso, and he believes that Luka could play a prominent role within the team.
Florentino Pérez’s decision
It does not appear that Florentino Pérez and the Real Madrid management are going to turn the situation around. They consider Luka Modric‘s time at the club to be over, and it would be exceptional for them to reconsider his future. But the truth is that it will be difficult for them to find a player who can contribute what the Croatian can. Only a stellar performance in the Club World Cup could lead to a change in the decision, that and a clamor from the fans.
The decision has been made to start a new era with new players, but it would not make sense to get rid of a player who can give you so much if you do not have a replacement who can offer guarantees. The decision has been made in the boardroom, and it seems that nothing can change it, but Modric will continue to give reasons to question the decision.