Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo names Real Madrid superstar as rival player he would like in his team
Barcelona's Dani Olmo has named Real Madrid veteran Luka Modric as the rival player he would want in his team. Barca bought back the 26-year-old from RB Leipzig this summer for €62 million. The Spaniard had first joined Barcelona at the age of nine but left in 2014 for Dinamo Zagreb.
Dani Olmo couldn't be registered before the third La Liga game for the Catalans because of their well-documented financial struggles. However, he was instrumental in his first game against Rayo Vallecano, scoring on his debut after coming on as a substitute in the second half.
He scored the winner in the 82nd minute in a 2-1 win with an assist by Lamine Yamal. Olmo produced an inch-perfect shot from an acute angle to make it three wins out of three for Barcelona in La Liga 2024-25 so far.
In an interview (via @MadridXtra), Olmo was asked about his best rival and the player from a rival team he'd like in his team. The Spaniard picked Luka Modric on both occasions.
"Best rival?"
Dani Olmo: "Modrić"
"A player from a rival team that you would like on your team?"
Dani Olmo: "Modrić"
Luka Modric first joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 and has been a revelation in the midfield for Los Blancos. In 538 games, the Croatian has recorded 39 goals and 86 assists. He is the most decorated player in Real Madrid's history with 27 trophies.
Luke Modric recently lifted the UEFA Super Cup - his first as a captain after Real Madrid defeated Atalanta 2-0. The Croatian's remarkable trophy haul includes six UEFA Champions League trophies, five UEFA Super Cups FIFA Club World Cups each. He's also won four La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey, and five Spanish Super Cups.
Modric was also the first player to break the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly over the Ballon d'Or after the Croatian won it in 2018.
Barcelona veteran once invited Real Madrid's Luka Modric to play with him in the Saudi Pro League
Barcelona's veteran Ivan Rakitic once invited Luka Modric to play with him in the Saudi Pro League during his time at Al-Shadab. Modric's future has been a constant topic of debate because of his age. Already 38, many fans opine that Modric continuing for Los Blancos will hinder the club's transition.
In an interview with Arab News (via Mundo Deportivo) in April this year, the former Barcelona player said:
“If you come to Saudi Arabia but don’t come to Al-Shabab, you’re going to have some problems with me."
Rakitic continued:
“If he decides to move, it would be fantastic. I would call him to try to do everything possible for Al-Shabab, for Saudi Arabia, to bring him to the Saudi Pro League, or give him all the information he may need.”
Finally, Rakitic didn't ignore the prospect of Modric continuing at Real Madrid for one more year. He said that 'enjoying Luka at the highest level would also be fantastic.' Now, Modric has followed suit and has extended his contract for one more season with the Los Blancos.
Meanwhile, Ivan Rakitic left Al-Shadab in this transfer window and has now joined Croatian club HNK Hajduk Split.