Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder opens up on playing with Modric: “Understand each other perfectly”
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has explained how it feels to play alongside a quality player like Luka Modric, saying that after almost nine years together, the two have developed a great connection.
Modric and Kroos have been together at Real Madrid since the 2014-15 season, although it must be remembered that Modric moved to Spain in the summer of 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur.
Over the years, the two have formed a formidable partnership at the heart of the team, winning four UEFA Champions League and three La Liga titles together.
Despite being on the wrong side of their 30s, the two continue to be at the top of their game and it is only achieved thanks to a perfect understanding.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona, Kroos explained how his relationship is with Modric.
“I’m very good playing by his side. We understand each other perfectly after almost nine years of playing together,” said the German midfielder according to Mundo Deportivo.
“We have a good connection both on and off the pitch and we know what the other is doing. Despite everything, there are always important people around us.”
Meanwhile, Kroos also spoke about Eduardo Camavinga’s performance against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, saying that the Frenchman’s presence helped the team especially while getting the better of the Reds physically.
Deployed as a pivot by Carlo Ancelotti in the second leg, the 20-year-old proved to be the backbone of his team on Wednesday night.
“Camavinga had a spectacular game against Liverpool on Wednesday and he helped us a lot, especially in the physical aspect,” said Kroos.
“We have a very good midfield and it depends on the game you want to play. As I’m a team player, it is important to talk about everyone. We two have more history than the others, but what’s important is what you do now,” the German claimed.
Touching on the importance of tomorrow’s game, Kroos added: “We know the importance of the match. For us, it’s important to get closer to them if we win. I don’t know what kind of game we’re going to see.”
When quizzed about how he thinks the match will go, he said: “Sometimes I wonder what is going to happen in the Clásico and I never get it right. It is always a special and unique game.”
Underlining that Real Madrid are up for the challenge, Kroos added: “We play well against big opponents. It’s what great teams do. If we continue like this, we’ll be fine. Also, after the draw for the Champions League, we have to do it to reach the final.”
There is no way back for Eden Hazard at Real Madrid. The Belgian international has not given the management any reason to have faith in his abilities over his past four seasons at the club and is unsurprisingly the most important departure for the Merengues in the summer.
Hazard has one more year on his contract in Madrid. However, it is clear that Carlo Ancelotti does not trust him and that any potential replacement manager in the summer will echo his stance.
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Fenerbahce are willing to go all out to sign Hazard this summer. The Turkish side have made the former Chelsea their prime target, yet face a steep task ahead of them.
The 32-year-old is hellbent on seeing out his contract with Los Blancos despite seeing his career sink right before his eyes. It thus becomes complicated for the party to lure away the forward, especially in a competition outside Europe’s top five leagues.
Fenerbahce attempted to sign the winger in the recently concluded winter transfer market. They reached an agreement with Real Madrid but failed to get over the line as they could not convince the player of the move.
The biggest obstacle for the Turkish side will be convincing Hazard to make the move by letting go of his lucrative contract in Madrid. The chances are slim, but not impossible.
Hazard has made just three league appearances and one start for Ancelotti’s side this season in La Liga, a steep fall from last season’s 18 and seven respectively.
His last appearance for the team came back in January when Real Madrid faced Cacereno in the Copa del Rey. In La Liga however, he last played in September 2022 in a 4-1 win over Mallorca.
