Real Madrid veteran wants to retire at the club, keen to play one more season with LaLiga giants: Reports
Real Madrid veteran Luka Modrić wants to retire at the club and is interested in staying at Santiago Bernabéu for one more season, as per @MadridXtra on X via journalist José Félix Díaz. The Croatian midfielder's contract with the LaLiga giants is valid until the summer of 2025.
Before signing a one-season contract extension with Real Madrid in July, Luka Modric spoke about his intentions of retiring at Los Blancos as well. During an interview with Cadena COPE in May, the 39-year-old said (via Managing Madrid):
"I have always said that I would like to retire at Real Madrid. It would be a dream to retire at home, at the club of my life, and I hope that happens. I have the physique and football to continue in the elite, I have no doubt."
"There has been a lot of talk about age and it bothers me. At Real Madrid the best players get on the field. Now I feel strong, but that can change in six months and if I see that I can no longer do it, I’ll be the first to admit it."
Luka Modric, who arrived at Santiago Bernabéu from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, has registered 39 goals and 89 assists in 554 appearances across competitions in his ongoing 12-year tenure at Madrid. The star midfielder has won four La Liga titles and six UEFA Champions League titles among several other accolades with the Spanish club.
Luka Modric, who also won the 2018 Ballon d'Or, has featured in 20 matches, starting in 14 of them while providing three assists for Real Madrid this season.
While Modric has reportedly made his intentions clear of wanting to continue at Madrid for one more season, it remains to be seen if the club considers the same, especially with respect to Luka Modric's age and form.
Real Madrid handed injury boost as Aurelien Tchouameni spotted in training
Real Madrid have received a major injury boost as midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has returned to training with the team. The 24-year-old suffered an ankle sprain in Los Blancos' UEFA Champions League clash against AC Milan on November 5. He has been out since, missing four matches for the Spanish giants so far.
Carlo Ancelotti has been dealing with an injury-riddled squad at Santiago Bernabéu this season, currently having five players out with injury including Tchouameni.
Ahead of Los Blancos' 2-0 win over Getafe on December 1, the Italian manager provided an update on some injured players, including Tchouameni. Ancelotti told reporters (via World Soccer Talk):
"Rodrygo is back tomorrow, Tchouameni the next game, soon Alaba will be back, Camavinga will soon return… We have to get through this moment with a good attitude and commitment because good things are yet to come."
Now, Tchouameni was spotted back in training with the squad, keeping the possibility open for him to feature in Los Blancos' next La Liga clash, against Athletic Club on December 4, at San Mamés. The Frenchman has made 15 appearances for the club so far but is yet to make a goal contribution this season.