Luka Modric (38) is aiming for his seventh Champions League title. Real Madrid announced the contract extension with the veteran on Wednesday
Under José Mourinho, Luka Modric came to Madrid in 2012 as more of a supplementary player, but the Croatian quickly became a regular and then a living legend. From the summer, the soon-to-be 39-year-old will now also be entering his 13th season with the Whites, who officially announced the new one-year contract extension on Wednesday afternoon.
Just a few months ago, the signs were still pointing to a farewell for the subtle playmaker. Even though Carlo Ancelotti usually even fielded four midfielders in 2023/24 instead of just three as he had done for years, Modric was increasingly relegated to the role of a supplementary player, a precious joker for the final phase. Not satisfactory for the still capable driving force, who is primarily interested in playing time. This is being courted due to the upheaval in Madrid’s wide midfield
No one has won more titles in a Real shirt
A decisive factor in the rethink is likely to have been the end of the career of Modric’s long-time partner Toni Kroos, with whom the wing-back specialist has mostly had to share the playing time of late – with clear advantages for the German. The once congenial eighth-man duo have hardly been on the pitch together this season.
Modric, together with the departing Nacho, is already the player who has won the most titles in Real Madrid’s history: 26. In addition, after winning the final against Borussia Dortmund, he has now won six Champions League titles (formerly the European Cup of Nations), like Nacho, Toni Kroos, Daniel Carvajal and the late Real legend Francisco “Paco” Gento – another record.
Unlike Kroos, however, Modric has the opportunity to extend this record. The situation is similar for Carvajal. Nacho’s future, meanwhile, continues in Saudi Arabia