Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that Luka Modric’s Real Madrid future is in the player’s hands as his current contract at the Santiago Bernabeu winds down.
The Ballon d’Or winner was heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 and had been tipped to join ex-teammates Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo in the cash-rich league. Despite the interest, however, Modric instead opted to extend his stay at Madrid for another season.
Since then, the 38-year-old midfielder has been used rather sparingly by manager Ancelotti, making just 11 starts in La Liga throughout the 2023/24 campaign.
Modric was once again subbed on late in Madrid’s La Liga game at the weekend, coming off the bench with a quarter of an hour remaining in the clash with Sevilla at the Bernabeu. The midfielder proved to be a difference maker in his short time on the field, scoring a wonderful late goal to win the game for Madrid.
Speaking to the press after the win, Ancelotti responded to questions about Modric potentially leaving the club in the summer.
“It’s in Luka’s hands what he wants to do,” Ancelotti explained. “We have to wait for his decision.
“Out of respect for him, I can’t give him advice. He knows perfectly well what he has to do. The quality of the minutes is more important than the quantity.
“It’s complicated. It’s hard to manage. I was once a player and went through it in my last year as a professional player. I would understand if Modric was a little bit upset if he is not playing. Everyone thinks he is at the end of his career, but I think he doesn’t agree with that. He looks to be well, fresh. He’s got legs. He doesn’t seem like he is 38.
