Real Madrid News
Modric picks one Barcelona and four Real Madrid icons in his dream five-a-side team
Over the years, Real Madrid has established its name as the club of legends. The special white jersey has been donned by many of football’s all-time greats and it is only fitting that the tradition continues to date.
Luka Modric is one player in the current squad who fits into the bracket of legends. At 37 years of age, the Croatian international reads and dictates the game like no other, ageing like fine wine.
Earlier this week, the midfielder joined Rio Ferdinand on Youtube where he was asked to choose his fantasy five-player football team. Such is the quality of the Spanish Champions that Modric chose his teammates, both former and current, for every position on the field.
“Ramos, Cristiano, Kroos, Bale and I would say Rakitic because I can’t have all from Real Madrid, but of course Casemiro and Benzema too.”
Ivan Rakitic formed the only exception on the list, whom as the Croatian said, he opted to name so as to avoid naming all Real Madrid players.
Though Rakitic played for FC Barcelona for a long time in his career, Modric shared a special bond and connection with him through the Croatian national team setup.
Later on, in the same interview, the Real Madrid star was asked about the best player he had ever played with, to which he replied,
“Cristiano is the best player I ever played with. The most special thing about Cristiano Ronaldo is his work ethic. He always wants more and more. He’s never happy with what he does. This is amazing. The demand he put on himself and the team was unbelievable.”
Modric had only words of respect for his former teammate Sergio Ramos who recently announced his retirement from International football. The 37-year-old spoke about the defender’s leadership and personality on the field saying,
“Sergio Ramos? Great defender, one of the best leaders on the pitch. When there’s a problem he’s always there. He’s amazing, a different class.”
Although Antonio Rudiger has had success since joining Real Madrid last summer, the club are in need of more depth and players that can form the backbone of the defensive unit in the years to come.
As part of their plans, Real Madrid are prioritising a move for Josko Gvardiol in the coming summer, reports 90 Min.
The outlet suggests Gvardiol will be one of the most wanted prospects in the market, with both Real Madrid and Manchester City eyeing a move for the Croatian international come the end of the season.
Formerly of Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol has enjoyed immense success since his move to the Bundesliga in 2021. He has impressed onlookers with his skill, organisation and discipline, which, coupled with his versatility, make him an appealing target for any European giant.
Gvardiol was also one of the top performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping Croatia finish third in the competition. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid among the clubs who have been keeping an eye on the defender for a while now.
However, signing Gvardiol will be a tricky task for Los Blancos. The player still has a long-term contract at Leipzig and could cost up to €85 million, as reported by 90 Min. Not to mention, the competition from Man City could be significant.
Real Madrid have no shortage of alternatives, though, with the club notably closely monitoring Portuguese defensive whizkid Antonio Silva, among others. So it will be interesting to see how the Spanish giants approach the market in this coming summer.
