Modric leaving Real Madrid after Club World Cup
Luka Modric will play his final match for Real Madrid at this summer's Club World Cup after becoming Los Blancos' most decorated player over 13 seasons in the Spanish capital.
The midfielder, 39, announced his upcoming departure on Instagram. He's set to play his last game for Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Modric, a Ballon d'Or winner in 2018, won his last piece of silverware with Real Madrid at the Club World Cup in December, taking him to a club-record 28 titles with Real Madrid. He also surpassed Ferenc Puskas as the oldest footballer to both play and score for Real Madrid.
Modric's gold rush
| Competition | Wins |
|---|---|
| Champions League | 6 |
| La Liga | 4 |
| Copa del Rey | 2 |
| Club World Cup | 6 |
| UEFA Super Cup | 5 |
| Supercopa de Espana | 5 |
"I am leaving with a full heart," the Croatian icon said in his social media post. "Full of pride, gratitude, and indelible memories. And although, after the Club World Cup, I will no longer wear this shirt on the pitch, I will always be a Real Madrid fan."
Modric has appeared in 34 of 37 La Liga matches this season and started 11 of the team's 14 Champions League games before its elimination by Arsenal in the quarterfinals. He initially wanted to stay longer, but it was decided that he would instead depart following talks with the Real Madrid hierarchy this week, according to The Athletic's Mario Cortegana and Guillermo Rai.
Croatia's record appearance holder (186 caps) appears set for a prolonged Real Madrid farewell in the United States. The Spanish giants take on Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, Mexico's Pachuca, and Austria's Red Bull Salzburg in the Club World Cup group stage before presumably embarking on a knockout run featuring the biggest football institutions on the globe.
“Luka Modric will forever remain in the hearts of all Madridistas as a unique and exemplary footballer who has always embodied the values of Real Madrid," club president Florentino Perez said. "His football has captured the imagination of Madridismo and fans all over the world. His legacy will live on forever."
Modric joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for around £30 million in 2012 and won his first trophy in the Supercopa de Espana two days after his arrival. He played four seasons with Tottenham after rising through the ranks to become a legendary figure at Dinamo Zagreb in his homeland.