Real Madrid News
Saudi giants planning £120 million offer for Real Madrid legend as Messi alternative
After having been snubbed by Lionel Messi, Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal have shifted their focus towards Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Luka Modric.
Indeed, The Guardian is reporting that Al-Hilal have made the 37-year-old midfield icon their main target after seeing Messi choose Inter Miami. And, they are planning to offer a mammoth two-year contract worth £60 million per season to the Real Madrid mainstay.
What’s more is that Modric is understood to be considering the possibility of making the switch to the Middle East, despite having previously turned down offers from the region.
Saudi Arabia have made it a point to target recent Ballon d’Or winners as they look to boost their profile ahead of a potential World Cup bid in 2030.
Having roped in Cristiano Ronaldo, they went hard for Messi’s signing, but were met with disappointment. Soon after, they turned their attention towards Karim Benzema, who ended up leaving Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad.
Now, Al-Hilal are eyeing a fresh raid on the Merengues for the signing of Modric. The Saudi Arabian giants are prepared to offer a hefty contract worth £120 million across two years for the Croatian international.
Despite being 37 years old, Modric continues to be a key component in Carlo Ancelotti’s scheme of things at Real Madrid. He played 52 games in all competitions in 2022/23, chipping in with six goals and assists apiece.
But with Jude Bellingham’s impending arrival and Dani Ceballos’ contract renewal, Modric’s role in the upcoming campaign might take a hit.
The former Tottenham star’s contract expires on June 30, but it was believed that he had agreed to renew with Los Blancos for one more season. But with Saudi Arabia coming in with an attractive proposal, Modric is considering the prospect of a move away from the Bernabeu.
It has been reported earlier today that Modric’s midfield partner, Toni Kroos, has rejected a proposal from Saudi Arabia. Whether the Croatian follows in his footsteps or Benzema’s remains to be seen.
Locking horns in what is invariably perceived as an intense affair, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid concluded their most recent clash with controversy enshrouding the result.
Diego Simeone’s cavalry came out on top with a 3-1 win, but the reactions by both sides after the game implied a sense of bad blood, which appears to be an ongoing matter.
The Merengues expressed their displeasure with some of the referee’s decisions during their Real Madrid TV broadcast, highlighting the ‘blatant errors’ they felt referee Javier Alberola Rojas and the VAR had committed.
However, in response to the allegations, Atletico Madrid CEO has retaliated with his own accusations, not holding back against Real Madrid.
Gil Marin accuses Madrid of cheating
As per MARCA, Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin believes that the Real Madrid-related media atmosphere is exerting pressure on the referee teams for the upcoming games.
“Real Madrid cheats the competition. They create unbearable pressure on the referees. The arguments they use are funny but very serious and directly affect the competition,” he boldly exclaimed.
Real Madrid pointed out a bucketload of errors made by the referee on Madrid TV, including goals that should not have stood and violations that warranted sending-offs.
Even so, Gil Marin has not taken these assertions lightly and privately mocked the actions of Real Madrid’s claims.
“They are fanatics. They know that if they do not say these types of things, they would quickly lose their jobs,” he said.
Moreover, he alluded to the instance of Jude Bellingham’s tackle on Angel Correa in the dying embers of the game and how the narrative would have been vastly different if the roles were reversed.
“We wouldn’t be talking about anything else [had that happened],” he concluded.
