Luka Modric vows to fight for the first place amid limited playing time

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric is not happy with his time in the LaLiga giant lately. When signing a contract extension last summer, the Croatian was promised to be given much playing time as well as his position as the club’s important player. However, what has been happening lately appears to be far from what was promised.

The 38-year-old player is reportedly frustrated by the lack of playing time given this season. Modric appeared in 33 games for Madrid this season, scoring two. Modric will have his contract with Madrid expire this summer and rumours started to spread that the 2018 FIFA Best Men’s player is thinking of leaving. 

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Carlo Ancelotti leaves things up to Modric

Last month, Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti shared his verdict on Modric’s situation. The Italian tactician admitted that he has no intention of giving Modric special treatment, suggesting the player has to fight for his own place in the team. 

“We celebrated Luka because he deserved it, he scored a great goal that gave us three points, and he brought a lot more,” said Ancelotti responding to Modric’s goal against Sevilla. “He had a freshness. He shows that it is very difficult to leave him on the bench. Not just because of the goal, but because of how he trains every day.

“It’s in Luka’s hands what he wants to do. 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.”

Speaking to a Spanish media outlet Relevo, Modric said he would continue to do what Ancelotti has suggested. He admitted that the current situation is no longer the same, considering the midfield unit Los Blancos have this season.  

Luka Modric refuses to surrender

The capital side has a stacked midfield area with the presence of Jude Bellingham. Playing improvement on some younger names such as Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurelien Tchouameni gives Modric tight competition.

“Will I stay at Real Madrid for next season? I don’t know, I don’t know,” Modric said. “I love football and I want to keep playing. The mentality and pressure at Real is very different, you have to be at your best. 

“My ambition is to keep winning with Real. If you win, you want to win even more. That is my attitude. There is no better club than Real. Real is the highest shelf, the others, you know, the shelf below.”

Modric has not shown any sign of retiring at the end of the season. It is also said that he would not pick another European team next season. MLS and Saudi Pro League emerge to the surface as a potential destination for the former Tottenham Hotspur player. 

But Football Espana reported that moving to Saudi is unlikely for Modric as he was still trying to fight for his spot in the national team. MLS is considered a stronger league than Saudi Arabia despite having numerous famous names such as Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, Modric’s former teammates in Madrid.