Shakhtar Donetsk manager hails Real Madrid veteran midfielder: “Neither Iniesta nor Xavi” | OneFootball

Icon: Madrid Universal

Madrid Universal

·4 October 2022

Shakhtar Donetsk manager hails Real Madrid veteran midfielder: “Neither Iniesta nor Xavi”

Article image:Shakhtar Donetsk manager hails Real Madrid veteran midfielder: “Neither Iniesta nor Xavi”

Real Madrid have enjoyed a strong start to their season and are unbeaten in ten games. Luka Modric has been at the centre of most of Los Blancos’ victories and it is not surprising that the team’s only draw came on a night when the Croat was unavailable.

Up next, the men in white face off against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League. Leading up to the clash at Santiago Bernabeu, Igor Jovicevic, the manager of the Ukrainian side, spoke to AS and was full of praise for Modric, hailing him for his longevity.


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“What Modric is doing, playing at this level with his age and in the best club in the world, no one has done. Neither Iniesta nor Xavi, for example, who went to other clubs much earlier,” Jovicevic said.

This comes as a big claim, given that the Real Madrid player is often compared to Barcelona’s golden trio of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

The three La Masia graduates are often considered the greatest midfielders to step onto the field and while Modric has done enough to warrant a place alongside them, the fact has seldom been stated out loud.

This season, the veteran has played in nine of the team’s ten games. In that duration, he has clocked two goals and an assist. He suffered a hip injury while on international duty and is unlikely to be risked in Real Madrid’s next few games ahead of El Clasico.

Both Xavi and Iniesta moved on relatively early from European football aged 35 and 33 respectively. The fact that Modric, aged 37, is still producing world-class displays for Carlo Ancelotti’s side week in and week out is a testament to his greatness.

Currently, Barcelona’s legendary number 6 is currently the manager of the club and has overseen a positive overhaul since his arrival last year. Meanwhile, Iniesta is the captain of J1 League club Vissel Kobe and is still an active player.

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