Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder feels strong enough to continue at club for one more season
According to reports from AS, Luka Modric feels that he has enough in the tank to renew and play one more season for Real Madrid. The Croatian wants to prove that he can operate at the highest level despite being 37 years of age.
The midfielder has been the heart of Real Madrid’s midfield for close to a decade now, and the current season has been no different. Despite guiding his team through a rebuild, manager Carlo Ancelotti sees the experienced Modric a part of the backbone of his side and maintains him as a starter for all big games.
The 37-year-old has played a part in 22 of the team’s 24 La Liga matches so far, finding the back of the net four times and providing three assists. He is one of the Merengues’ creators-in-chief providing 1.4 key passes per game and fashioning eight big chances so far.
In recent years, Los Blancos have resisted handing veteran players long renewals. It has been the norm to sign extensions of only one or two seasons for players past the 30-year mark given the inevitable age-related decline. Yet, Modric has been one to put that theory to bed.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup finalist has aged like fine wine and continues to baffle on the field with his exquisite passes and movements. He is already a club legend in his own right and is a player who will go down as one of the greats of the game.
His contract at Santiago Bernabeu runs out in June. Modric now seems close to a one-year extension, but it is clear that his role next season may be far less prominent.
If Real Madrid sign Jude Bellingham in the summer, the club will look to use next season as a means to gradually phase out the Croatian International. However, if Modric’s track record is anything to go by, the midfielder will make it difficult for the manager to even consider playing him in a secondary role.
In what will come as a pleasing development for fans, Fabrizio Romano reports that Real Madrid forward Rodrygo could make a comeback from his injury earlier than expected.
The 25-year-old Brazilian international has been out of action since March after suffering an ACL injury during a La Liga game against Getafe.
Due to the complete rupture of the ACL, coupled with associated meniscus damage, it was suggested that the attacker was staring at a lengthy time out on the sidelines and might not return until 2027.
In fact, the forward’s father, Eric Goes, recently stated in an interview that the Real Madrid ace could be back in February next year, just before the business end of the campaign.
Rodrygo could be back in December
However, as per the update from Romano, Rodrygo’s comeback could happen well before that expected date.
Indeed, if things continue to progress at the current rate, the 25-year-old attacker might return to action in December or by January 2027 at the latest.
This will come as a welcome boost for Jose Mourinho & co., considering that Rodrygo is a valuable player for the team.
Even though he had endured a tough spell prior to his form, the Brazilian’s versatility, work rate off the ball, and eye for a goal make him an asset.
Rodrygo eager to be back at his best
The update from Romano further states that Rodrygo feels very grateful to Real Madrid for all the help and support they have given him during this difficult phase of his career.
As such, the Brazilian international has made it a mission to return to action in the best shape possible and make an impact from the get-go.
The attacker has only recently begun working on the pitch with the ball indicating the significant progress he has made on the road to recovery.
And, if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could recover one of their ace attackers before the end of the current year.
So far in his career, Rodrygo has made 297 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring 71 goals. He has a contract with the club until 2028.
