Real Madrid’s legendary midfielder Luka Modric will depart the club after the FIFA Club World Cup this summer, marking the end of a storied 13-year tenure. Despite incoming manager Xabi Alonso’s request to extend Modric’s contract, the club, as reported by Diario AS on May 22, 2025, declined, prioritizing a generational shift. Modric, who turns 40 in September, will play his final LaLiga match for Los Blancos against Real Sociedad on Saturday, May 24, 2025, closing a chapter that began with his 2012 transfer from Tottenham Hotspur.
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner leaves an unparalleled legacy, having won 28 trophies, including six UEFA Champions League titles and four LaLiga crowns. Modric’s 590 appearances, 43 goals, and 95 assists underscore his enduring brilliance, even as a rotational player under Carlo Ancelotti this season, where he notched four goals and nine assists in 56 games. His leadership and vision remained vital amid Real Madrid’s midfield injury challenges, earning praise from teammates past and present for his professionalism and impact.
Alonso, set to replace Ancelotti as head coach, viewed Modric as a cornerstone for his 2025-26 squad, valuing his experience to guide younger players like Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga. However, the club’s management, led by Florentino Pérez, opted against a renewal, focusing on signings like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen to refresh the roster. Modric’s emotional farewell message to fans highlighted unforgettable moments, from “impossible comebacks” to “magical nights” at the Santiago Bernabéu, promising to remain a Madridista at heart.
As Modric prepares to represent Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, speculation surrounds his next move, with potential interest from Saudi clubs and a possible return to Dinamo Zagreb. His departure, alongside that of Lucas Vazquez, signals the end of an era for Real Madrid, with Alonso now tasked to rebuild without one of the club’s greatest-ever midfielders. Modric’s exit leaves a void, but his legacy as a symbol of Real Madrid’s golden generation endures, etched in the club’s history and the hearts of fans worldwide.
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