Real Madrid legend rejected one of football’s ‘biggest ever’ offers to renew with club | OneFootball

Luka Modric will be a Real Madrid player for the 2023/24 season. The veteran’s continuity was never in doubt with him being vocal about his desire to continue, but it was only earlier today that the club finally made an official announcement of his contract renewal.

The Croatian international, at 37 years of age, continues to push the boundaries of football and make the impossible possible. Modric is ageing like fine wine, and it is safe to say that Real Madrid are blessed to have a player with such quality, zeal, and desire to remain at the top.

According to reports from Fabrizio Romano, Modric could have easily taken the easier route to Saudi Arabia. The player had one of the biggest-ever salary proposals in football from the Middle-East-based league on his table and was just one signature away from an economic fortune.

However, he decided to turn down the proposal with utmost respect. It is after all the midfield maestro’s desire to continue playing for the club of his life, Real Madrid, at the highest level.

Not much is known about his role in the team next season, for the arrival of Jude Bellingham and the potential reinstatement of Aurelien Tchouameni as a starter in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans make it difficult to predict the manager’s ideas.

Yet, reports state that Modric will be as important to the team as he has been over the past decade. The Italian coach counts on him completely, both as a player and one to guide the next generation.

In 33 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid last season, he scored four goals and had three assists to his name. Further, he averaged 1.3 key passes per game and created nine big chances.

The midfielder has extended his deal with Los Blancos for one season, and one would expect it to be his final season at the Santiago Bernabeu given his age. Yet, if history has taught us anything, never write off Modric.