Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric found himself revisiting last season’s dramatic clash with Liverpool as the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 gave him a moment to reflect not on tactics or scores but on where his career might head next. The durable Croatian veteran spoke more about his long tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu and the questions looming over his future than about the result on the night. With his contract situation still in discussion, Modric hinted that options beyond Madrid could be on the table, including a possible move abroad. Saudi Arabia has emerged as a potential destination for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, a route already explored by a string of high-profile players in recent years, creating a recurring narrative around the twilight years of eminent careers in European football. His name sits at the intersection of loyalty to a legendary club and the lure of a fresh chapter elsewhere, a dynamic that continues to unfold as negotiations with Real Madrid proceed.
“I haven’t spoken to the club about a renewal yet, just as I did at this point last year,” Modric stated with a measured calm. “I want to stay here. I feel good, I have the desire to continue. Real Madrid and I must sit down, and I need to hear what the club thinks. But I have to earn it. I don’t want them to grant me anything. If they believe I deserve to stay, I will. Whatever happens, my relationship with Real Madrid remains unchanged, because this is the club of my life.”
Modric underscored the long, demanding commitment he has shown at Real Madrid, a discipline he described as intense and exacting after more than a decade in white jerseys. He acknowledged the evolving dynamics within the squad, noting that Toni Kroos and he have shared the field for many seasons and that the team has frequently balanced their presence with others in the squad. He reflected on the period following the World Cup, recognizing the strain that the calendar can impose, but emphasizing that the collective accomplishments of the team and the positive trajectory of his own form have not been swayed by any temporary blips. Ancelotti added that Kroos’s form would be managed in a way that keeps the squad competitive while preserving individual workloads, signaling a careful, long-term approach to maintaining the core spine of the team.
Looking ahead, Modric outlined a plan that centers on continuing to compete at the highest level while contemplating a path after the current cycle. He talked about extending his contributions into international tournaments that lie on the horizon, aiming to finish what he started in the national team arena before turning attention to future possibilities. He stressed that Real Madrid’s priorities have always focused on the integrity of the club’s structure and its philosophy rather than hastily forcing changes. The idea of stepping away from the club or the international stage did not appear on his radar as a reason to alter his commitment; rather, it reflects a period of thoughtful consideration about how to balance prolonged success with the realities of a demanding football life. In closing, Modric conveyed that his performances for both club and country remain a core part of his identity—an ongoing pursuit of excellence that he intends to pursue with honesty and resolve, whatever decisions come from the discussions with Real Madrid and the governing bodies of the sport.