Real Madrid News
Watch: Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos shares emotional embrace with Modric on farewell night
Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos, who retired at the end of last season, made a special appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.
The German midfielder was in the stands to witness the emotional farewell of his long-time teammate and friend, Luka Modric, who played his final game at the iconic stadium after 13 unforgettable seasons.
Just a year ago, Kroos received a similar tribute during his last game in front of the Madrid faithful.
This time, the roles were reversed, as he watched Modric take the spotlight, with fans, teammates, and coaches coming together to celebrate the Croatian maestro’s legendary career.
Modric’s goodbye moves the Bernabeu to tears
The Santiago Bernabeu was filled with emotion as fans gave Modric standing ovations throughout the 86 minutes he spent on the pitch.
I'm not crying, you're crying 😭
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) May 24, 2025
Toni Kroos was right there when Luka Modric got subbed off in his final home game for Real Madrid.
A partnership for the ages 🤍 pic.twitter.com/UOq5ENQJGO
From the moment he stepped out for warm-ups to his final touch of the ball, the crowd showed their love and appreciation for a player who gave everything to the badge.
The night ended in a truly touching moment as both Real Madrid and Real Sociedad players formed a guard of honour as Modric left the pitch.
He shared long embraces with every teammate and member of the coaching staff, including Carlo Ancelotti, who also said his farewell to the Bernabéu that night.
Waiting on the sidelines were Modric’s wife, Vanja, and their three children, ready to join him in what was one of the most emotional nights of his career.
The moment was too powerful for words, and even the usually composed Croatian could not hold back his tears.
As Modric walked off the pitch for the final time in front of the Madrid crowd, with Kroos watching from the stands, it truly marked the end of an era, one defined by success, unity, and a midfield that will go down in football history.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
