Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder concerned about extension, will wait until last minute for it
Real Madrid have a fair few loose ends to tie up within their squad ahead of the 2022/23 season, with several players on the cusp of becoming free agents. This list includes the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos, Nacho, and Marco Asensio.
Of these players, only Modric and Kroos are somewhat guaranteed a place in the team for next season, with the coaching staff evidently huge fans of the duo.
However, Modric is becoming concerned about the fact that Madrid have not offered him an extension yet, as per a report by MARCA. He is willing to wait until the last minute, however, because he wants to retire at Madrid.
Now 37, Modric is at the last juncture of his career, having spent the last decade with Los Blancos. He has no plans to leave the club, and has been waiting for a renewal for a few months.
There has been a lot of speculation about his contract, though, with Saudi Arabian teams ready to offer him a bumper contract. The Croatian captain has cleared all doubts regarding that multiple times, though.
“My wish is known, to stay at Real Madrid. I believe and hope it will happen. The rest are only assumptions and rumours. I repeat for the 100th time, I hope and believe I will stay at Real Madrid,” Modric said in a press conference with the Croatian National team.
Modric has played 24 games in the league this season with Madrid, scoring four goals and giving three assists.
Speaking to the media, Brazil Football Confederations (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues has claimed that the Selecao have not given up on their pursuit of Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, despite the Italian stating that he will not leave the club.
Brazil have been without a manager since the World Cup in Qatar last year, following which Tite stepped down. The CBF have made Ancelotti their top target and have been pursuing his signing for months but to no avail.
The 63-year-old Italian tactician has, on more than one occasion, made it clear that he will be at Real Madrid next season, with his contract expiring in 2024.
However, CBF president Rodrigues is adamant that Ancelotti’s statements are due to him being cautious as he is under contract at Real Madrid and that the Selecao are not prepared to give up on their quest to appoint him as of yet.
“We made a plan, that ‘Plan A’ is the one you know, Ancelotti, and as they say in the ‘ring’ (boxing), I haven’t thrown in the towel yet,” Rodrigues said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
“Because of contracts, people are cautious,” he added.
Ancelotti, for his part, has repeatedly stated that he does not intend to leave Real Madrid unless he is forced out of the club.
Despite missing out on the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League titles last season, the club continue to back the veteran Italian and are planning for next season with him in charge.
So, despite Rodrigues’ confidence and perseverance, it is extremely unlikely that Ancelotti will be leaving Real Madrid for Brazil this summer.
