Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric confirms that he is staying at the Bernabeu for the 2024-25 season after agreeing a new contract.
Real Madrid stalwart Luka Modric revealed whether he would be staying with Los Blancos during their Champions League final celebrations on Monday.
Alongside Real teammate Dani Carvajal, the former Tottenham Hotspur man etched his name into the European Cup record books by winning his sixth title on Saturday evening.
As Carlo Ancelotti‘s men overcame Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the final, Modric won his sixth top-level European title, a feat only Carvajal and Paco Gento have also managed.
The Croatia international made his 46th appearance of the 2023-24 season at Wembley, although he only came on for the last five minutes of the final and has seldom been seen from the start in recent months.
Modric only made the first XI on three occasions during Real Madrid’s run to Champions League glory and also started under half of Los Blancos’ La Liga matches – 18 to be exact – during their title-winning campaign.
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Modric announces Real Madrid stay
The 38-year-old still managed two goals and eight assists in 2023-24, but as things stand, he can walk away from Los Blancos for nothing at the end of the month when his contract expires.
Saudi Pro League clubs are ready to offer Modric one last mammoth payday before he retires, but he has chosen to snub the riches of the Middle East in favour of signing a new short-term deal at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid have not officially announced his renewal, but Modric confirmed that he would be staying on for 2024-25 during Madrid’s celebrations on Sunday, saying: “See you next season, Madristas,” to the bouyant crowd.
Modric will therefore be donning the Real Madrid strip for a 13th straight season, having arrived in a £29.8m deal from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2012, since when he has become one of the most decorated midfielders in Europe.
The 38-year-old has contributed 39 goals and 86 assists in 534 games for Los Blancos, winning 25 trophies along the way, and he will captain Croatia in their imminent Euro 2024 campaign.
Modric’s fellow midfielder to perform U-turn on future?
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While Modric will continue to star for Real Madrid in 2024-25, his fellow veteran and another lauded midfielder in Toni Kroos has seemingly played his final game for the 15-time European champions.
Despite being nearly five years Modric’s junior, Kroos has announced that he plans to retire after Euro 2024, explaining that he wants to hang up his boots while still performing at his best level.
However, Blancos boss Ancelotti has left the door open for the 34-year-old to change his mind, telling him that he is “waiting” for the call to confirm his desire to stay after all.
As Kroos bids farewell, his spot in the Real Madrid locker room could be taken by Kylian Mbappe, whose highly-anticipated move is expected to be confirmed in a matter of days.