Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder unlikely to renew his contract with the club – report
Luka Modric is one of seven Real Madrid players that have their contracts expiring at the end of the season.
The Croatian international has been serving Real Madrid for over a decade now and has featured in 459 matches for the club. But at the age of 37, there are doubts about whether he would like to continue at Santiago Bernabeu.
According to Jose Manuel Moreno, Modric will not renew his contract at Real Madrid this year and will cease to become a Real Madrid player after the end of the season.
This comes as a real shocker for Los Blancos, who have been relying heavily on the services of Modric for over a decade now. Even at 37, the Croatian plays a major role in Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield unit, particularly due to his experience and ability to perform at the highest level.
Modric recently led the Croatian team to a third-place finish in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Following his exploits in Qatar, there were suggestions that the midfielder will continue at Real Madrid for one more season by extending his contract at the Bernabeu.
But it appears the veteran midfielder is reconsidering his decision and may quit after spending 11 years in the Spanish capital. During his time at the club, Modric has bagged five Champions League titles and three La Liga titles. He even won the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 2018.
But if the 37-year-old opts to move on from Real Madrid at the end of the season, it will leave Ancelotti with a dearth of options in midfield, especially with Toni Kroos also looking at the possibility of an early retirement.
Real Madrid have been linked with moves for young midfielders such as Jude Bellingham in order to alleviate the potential loss of experienced stars like Modric and Kroos. But funding a move for the Englishman could be a challenge, especially with Borussia Dortmund holding out for a fee of €150 million.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
