Luka Modrić will leave Real Madrid after June’s Club World Cup, ending a 13-year spell due to Madrid’s youth-focused rebuild.
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner aims to lead Croatia at 2026 World Cup. Stay tuned to BRG365 for latest updates.
Leaving Reason
Real Madrid’s decision to part ways with Luka Modrić stems from a strategic shift toward youth rejuvenation.
The club opted not to renew his contract, which expires on June 30, 2025, to prioritize emerging talents like Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Arda Güler.
Modrić had offered to accept a reduced role and salary, but Madrid’s plan to rebuild around a younger midfield core—following the 2024 departure of Toni Kroos—made renewal impossible.
New manager Xabi Alonso, set to take over after Carlo Ancelotti’s exit, also played a role.
While Alonso admired Modrić’s leadership, he prioritized a midfield reset to compete in the long term.
The Croat’s 39-year-old legs, though still reliable (34 La Liga appearances this season), no longer aligned with Madrid’s vision for a high-intensity, youthful system.
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Modrić’s Final Home Game
Modrić will play his last Bernabéu match on May 24 vs. Real Sociedad, with Madrid planning a tribute ceremony featuring video montages and a lap of honor.
“Leaving with a full heart,” he wrote on social media, acknowledging “football’s beginning and end”.
28 Titles and a Midfield Masterclass
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner departs as Madrid’s most decorated player (28 titles), including six Champions Leagues and four La Ligas.
His 590 appearances, 43 goals, and 95 assists highlight a career defined by technical brilliance—from the 2018 World Cup final run to his 92% pass accuracy this season.
World Cup Beyond
Modrić will captain Croatia at the 2026 World Cup, with coach Zlatko Dalić calling him “the team’s heartbeat”.
Saudi Pro League and MLS clubs have approached him, but he prefers a European move to maintain fitness for international duty.
Retirement remains an option if no suitable offer materializes, though he vows to “play as long as love for the game lasts”.
Although future coach Xabi Alonso hoped to retain Modric, the arrival of youth talents—Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler—signaled a new era.
Modric’s contract expires June 30, but he’ll extend through July 13 to complete the Club World Cup before departing.
Luka Modric leaves as one of the all-time greats. His technical brilliance, consistency, and silent leadership defined an era for Real Madrid.
As the club rebuilds under Xabi Alonso, Modric’s impact will be felt for years, both in trophy cabinets and in the standards he set on the pitch.
