Luka Modric, the captain of Real Madrid, has announced his decision to depart from the prestigious club at the conclusion of their FIFA Club World Cup journey this summer.
The 39-year-old midfielder from Croatia, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, is set to play his final game at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium on Saturday, where they will face Real Sociedad in their last league match of the season.
“This moment has come. It’s a moment I wished would never arrive, but that’s how football goes, and everything in life has its start and finish,” Modric shared on Instagram.
Since joining Real from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, he has amassed a remarkable total of 28 trophies, which includes six Champions League titles and four league championships.
“I joined in 2012 with dreams of donning the jersey of the world’s best team and aspirations for great achievements, but I couldn’t have foreseen what lay ahead,” he expressed.
“Playing for Real Madrid transformed my existence both as a footballer and as an individual.
“I take pride in having been part of one of the most victorious periods in the history of the greatest club ever.”
Real Madrid is set to kick off their Club World Cup journey against Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia on June 18 and will also compete against Pachuca from Mexico and Austria’s RB Salzburg in the group stage.
This season, Modric scored two goals and contributed six assists in 34 matches in La Liga, as Real lost out on the title to Barcelona.
He also played in every match as Carlo Ancelotti’s team advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they were defeated by Arsenal with a score of 5-1 on aggregate.
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Last year, Modric opted for a one-year contract extension, which will conclude with this current campaign.
The upcoming Saturday match will also mark Ancelotti’s final game at the helm of Real, with reports suggesting that Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso is set to take over.
Even though he has primarily been utilized as a substitute this season, Modric is set to depart Real as its most accomplished athlete, finishing with 590 appearances, 43 goals, and 95 assists.
“Modric will forever hold a special place in the hearts of all Madrid supporters as a remarkable and exceptional player who has consistently represented the true values of Real Madrid,” club president Florentino Perez stated in a release.
“His style of play has inspired not only Madridistas but fans across the globe. His legacy is destined to endure eternally.”
Modric led Real to secure two trophies in his final season, bringing his total to 28 titles, thus surpassing Nacho Fernandez as the club’s most successful player.
He holds the distinction of being the oldest individual to play for Los Blancos in La Liga as well as their oldest scorer, netting a goal in a 2-1 victory against Valencia at the age of 39 years and 116 days, surpassing Ferenc Puskas’s record.
Currently, Modric ranks as the third longest-tenured player in Spain’s top tier, following Oscar de Marcos from Athletic Club and Koke from Atletico Madrid.
Recently, the Croatian icon took on the role of “investor and co-owner” by acquiring a minority share in the Championship club Swansea City.
