LUKA MORDIC CONFIRMS HIS DEPARTURE FROM REAL MADRID: "THE TIME HAS COME"

Rumors of Luka Modric’s departure from Real Madrid have taken Spanish media by storm in recent days, especially with a new manager coming and looking to pass on the baton in midfield to the next generation.

The player has always been clear that he wishes to continue as a Real Madrid player, at least until the next World Cup. After all, he has shown to have the required quality even at the ripe age of 39.

Florentino Perez and Co. however, did not offer him a contract renewal despite the player’s wish and rumors thus came to light that his time at the club may well be coming to an end.

Modric confirms his departure

Taking to his official Instagram earlier today, the Real Madrid star confirmed the news of his departure and penned a long and emotional farewell message to his fans.

“Dear Real Madrid fans. The time has come. The time I never wanted to come, but that’s football, and in life, everything has a beginning and an end. On Saturday, I’ll play my last game at the Santiago Bernabéu,” he began, confirming the end of his time as a Real Madrid player.

The Croatian star then wrote about his dream of wearing a Real Madrid shirt and how it came true in 2012 at a time when he never expected such an illustrious career.

“I arrived in 2012 with the hope of wearing the shirt of the best team in the world and the ambition to do great things. But I couldn’t have imagined what came next.”

“Playing for Real Madrid changed my life as a footballer and as a person. I’m proud to have been part of one of the most successful eras of the best club in history,” he added.

Modric then went on to thank all the parties involved in his journey at the club including the president Florentino Perez.

" I want to sincerely thank the club, especially President Florentino Pérez, my teammates, coaches, and everyone who has helped me throughout this time.”

On the magical moments he has lived as a Real Madrid star, especially in the UEFA Champions League, Modric wrote,

“Over these years, I’ve experienced incredible moments, comebacks that seemed impossible, finals, celebrations, and magical nights at the Bernabéu. We’ve won everything, and I’ve been very happy. Very, very happy.”

Towards the end of his farewell message to fans, the midfield maestro admitted that his deep love for the club will live forever and how it meant the world to him.

"But beyond the titles and victories, I carry the affection of all Real Madrid fans in my heart. I truly don’t know how to explain the special connection I have with you and how supported, respected, and loved I have felt and still feel.”

“I will never forget every ovation and all the gestures of affection you have shown me,” he added.

As a conclusion to his message to fans, Modric penned out the emotions he is going through as his connection with the club nears goodbye.

“I’m leaving with a full heart. Full of pride, gratitude, and indelible memories. And although, after the Club World Cup, I won’t wear this shirt on the pitch again, I will always be a Real Madrid fan.”

“We will meet again. Real Madrid will always be my home. For life. Hala Madrid, and Nothing Else. Luka Modric,” he concluded.

- Adithya Eshwarla

GREATEST MIDFIELDERS

 

THE ONLY FIVE PLAYERS WHO HAVE WON SIX CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TROPHIES

 The only five players who have won six Champions League:

🇪🇸 Paco Gento - 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

🇩🇪 Toni Kroos - 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

🇪🇸 Nacho Fernández - 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

🇭🇷 Luka Modrić - 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

🇪🇸 Dani Carvajal - 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Real Madrid heritage. ⚪

JOE COLE ON EDEN HAZARD VIA THE ATHLETIC

 

TONI KROOS EXITS REAL MADRID A LEGEND, PASSING TO THE BATON TO JUDE BELLINGHAM

Toni Kroos signed off on his career at Real Madrid in the best possible way, and has laid a platform for teammate Jude Bellingham to become a legend in his own right. Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images

 LONDON -- It was apt that Toni Kroos' last significant contribution in a Real Madrid shirt helped create another moment of history for the undisputed kings of the Champions League. A perfectly delivered corner, headed into the net by Dani Carvajal, and Madrid were on their way to a record 15th European Cup win by defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley.

Twelve minutes later, Kroos was substituted by coach Carlo Ancelotti -- who was about to extend his own record to five Champions Leagues wins as a coach -- to a standing ovation from the Real fans in London, with his place in the history books assured.

"It could be worse," Kroos told CBS. "That was the plan [to win the Champions League in his last game for Madrid], even though it's difficult to plan this. It seems in these games we are unable to lose.

"Amazing. Six titles in the Champions League is crazy, something I never thought I'd achieve."

Kroos' six Champions League wins -- one with Bayern Munich and five with Madrid -- puts him in rarified air. Nobody has won more, ever. Real great Paco Gento and Kroos' modern-day teammates Luka Modric, Nacho Fernandez and Carvajal are the only players in history to lift the European Cup six times, but this win was the final chapter for Kroos, with the 34-year-old announcing recently that he will retire from football after representing Germany at Euro 2024.

"It's what he wanted, retiring at the top, and he's done it," Real president Florentino Perez told TVE. "He's a player who'll be one of the great legends of Real Madrid, without doubt."

Just as Kroos was cradling the trophy for the sixth time, Jude Bellingham was getting acquainted with it for the first. At 20, it is likely to be the first of many for the Madrid and England midfielder and he may yet eclipse Kroos' record of six wins.

"I can't put it into words, the best night of my life," Bellingham said after the game.

Bellingham has every chance of winning time and time again for Real. He is playing for the serial winners of the Champions League and he has already established himself as a crucial element of Ancelotti's side since his €103 million transfer from Dortmund last summer. He literally has the world at his feet at the Santiago Bernabeu. But the big challenge for Bellingham now is to assume the mantle that is being vacated by Kroos. Can he become the heartbeat of the Real team and be the guy who delivers when his side needs it the most?

Neither Kroos nor Bellingham were at their absolute best against Dortmund. In fact, they were both chasing yellow shadows at times as Edin Terzic's team surprised the LaLiga champions with their aggressive, committed pressing game, especially in the first half.

Dortmund were dominant for at least an hour and Real's big performers struggled to make an impact. But great players are always able to dig deeper than the rest -- that's what elevates them to the pinnacle of the game -- and Kroos did just that when he stepped up to take the corner which led to Carvajal's headed goal, the full-back's first Champions League tally since November 2015. Kroos has forged a reputation for being arguably the most accurate passer in football, with the ability to deliver the ball with inch-perfect precision, and he did just that for Carvajal, who glanced the ball into the net by connecting at the near post.

What a way to sign off, by creating the chance that makes the crucial breakthrough in a Champions League final. By doing so, Kroos lifted the pressure on everyone in a white shirt, and maybe nobody more so than Bellingham.

It is easy to forget how young Bellingham is. He is not 21 until the end of June, but he has already become an England regular and made his name in the Bundesliga and now LaLiga. In his first season with Madrid, he has scored an incredible 23 goals in 42 appearances and registered 13 assists -- the 13th being the pass which teed up Vinícius Júnior make it 2-0 against Dortmund on Saturday. Because Bellingham has enjoyed such a stellar season, all eyes were on him to be the decisive player in this final, but he didn't have that performance in his locker after a long, tough season.

But he is now a Champions League winner and, with Kroos vacating the stage, Bellingham will now be expected to do what Kroos did in this game.

He certainly has the ability, and he has the temperament too, but Kroos is such a legend at Real that even Bellingham will have to step up and take his game to another level. It is not about an apprentice emulating the master because Bellingham is no apprentice, but Kroos is still somebody he must aspire to match. To do that, Bellingham has to become a more central figure rather than allowing himself to drift out wide or too high up the pitch. But that tactical discipline will come, and it may start to come next season when Kylian Mbappé arrives at the Bernabeu.

Mbappe, who is expected to become a Real player once his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires this month, will take the spotlight and automatically become Real's biggest star. But Bellingham is still capable of being the player that makes Real tick and the one who can create the chances for Mbappe to score so many goals and shoot Real to even more Champions Leagues.

Kroos has handed down the baton and Bellingham is ready to take it on. And don't bet against him breaking Kroos' record of six Champions Leagues if he stays at Madrid.

- Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

NO EXCUSES FROM REAL MADRID, AS INJURY-HIT REAL FACE NAPOLI

Reuters 

Real Madrid go into their Champions League tie against Napoli with plenty of injury problems, but manager Carlo Ancelotti said his side have proved they are strong enough to cope with these challenges.

Real's injury list includes Aurelien Tchouameni, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, while Luka Modric is a doubt after going off injured in their 3-0 win at Cadiz on Sunday.

NATIONS LEAGUE: LUKA MODRIC SCORES IN EXTRA TIME AS CROATIA 🇭🇷 BEAT NETHERLANDS 🇳🇱 TO REACH FINAL

AP

Zlatko Dalic's Croatia, who reached the World Cup semi-finals last year, moved a step closer to earning their first ever trophy and demonstrated once again they are extra-time specialists.

Bruno Petkovic and Luka Modric struck in extra time to fire Croatia into the Nations League final with a 4-2 victory over hosts the Netherlands on Wednesday. Zlatko Dalic’s side, who reached the World Cup semi-finals last year, moved a step closer to earning their first ever trophy and demonstrated once again they are extra-time specialists.

Andrej Kramaric and Mario Pasalic netted in the second half after Donyell Malen sent the Dutch ahead, but Noa Lang snatched a 96th-minute equaliser to force an additional half hour.

LUKA MODRIC WITH FAMILY | CROATIA 🇭🇷

LOVE FROM LUKA MODRIC AFTER A HISTORICAL WIN