Real Madrid ‘legend’ Luka Modric’s patience appears to be running out.
Real Madrid came from behind to defeat Napoli 3-2 in the second leg of their 2023-24 UEFA Champions League (UCL) Group C match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy, on Thursday.
Real Madrid secured the win thanks to goals from Vinicius, Jude Bellingham and an own goal. Napoli were limited to two goals from Östergaard and Zielinski. With the win, Real Madrid extends their winning streak to two games and remains atop Group C.
While everyone was celebrating the thrilling away win, there was one person who couldn’t help but smile. That would be the legendary Modric. Modric didn’t even start against Napoli. He came off the bench in the 19th minute to replace Toni Kroos.
Out of eight games this season, Modric has only started three. In the UCL, he was hoping to start, but was relegated to the bench. This is why Modric is looking to leave Real Madrid.
Modric joined Real Madrid in 2012 and played for the club for 12 seasons until this season. He scored 37 goals in 493 games and collected 23 trophies, including five UEFA Champions League (UCL) titles. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 2018. However, his decline this season has been rapid. It has been suggested that the 38-year-old has reached his limit.
The bench is an unacceptable place for Modric. As a legend, he can’t seem to accept the idea of being reduced to a bench player. Modric also wants to go out on a high note at Euro 2024, his last major tournament. If he doesn’t start, his performance will suffer, and Euro 2024 will suffer.
That’s why there has been a steady stream of transfer rumors lately. There have been rumors of a move to Saudi Arabia and a move to Inter Miami in the United States. Recently, Modric even had dinner with Inter Miami president David Beckham.
In this situation, Eduardo Inda, the chief reporter of Spain’s “Okdiario,” a prominent Spanish newspaper, revealed through “El Chiringuito” that Modric has informed Real Madrid of his transfer.
He said, “Modric has asked the club for a transfer. Modric met with coach Carlo Ancelotti and the board. Modric expressed his discomfort when he was on the bench. Modric is a player who doesn’t like personal records, awards, or anything other than being in the starting lineup. Modric’s patience was running out.”
“Modric told the coach that if this situation continues in December, he will leave the team. They are rational people. It was a conversation between adults. Modric also told the coach, ‘I want to win Euro 2024, and if I don’t start, I won’t stay,'” the report said.
Inda said Modric made similar comments to the board of directors.
레고토토“The conversation in the boardroom was similar. Modric asked to leave the team in January if the situation continued. Modric did not speak directly to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez,” Inda explained the situation.