Luka Modric’s compatriot and former team-mate Ivan Rakitic has criticised Real Madrid for allowing him to leave.
Milan’s signing of Modric in the summer on a free transfer was greeted with a lot of excitement, and if there were any concerns about what level he could contribute at – given that he is 40 years of age – he has answered those with countless top performances.
There is even talk that he will stay for one more year, leading Milan back into the Champions League. For Rakitic, the departure of Modric from Real Madrid is a travesty, so much so that he expressed his disbelief on Radio Marca (via Calciomercato.com).
“It was a serious mistake, not only on the part of Real Madrid, but also for Spanish football, because I think we should have pushed much harder to keep him,” he said.
“Given how things are going at Real Madrid, I think the coach would be delighted to have him. It saddens me because we don’t consider age when a player is too young, but Luka is proving that football has no age limits. He’s different from many others.
“It’s no coincidence, because he takes care of himself and prepares well, and in the end, those who work hard deserve it. He’s happy, satisfied, having a lot of fun, and that’s what matters, that we enjoy his presence on the pitch as much as possible.”
How the exit materialised
Real Madrid’s management prioritised a sort of changing of the guard last summer, choosing to build the future around younger talents like Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde.
While Modric remains a top-class player, his role had increasingly become that of a mere reserve. When his contract expired last summer, the club opted for a farewell that paved the way for the arrival of the new generation.
Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso first and now Alvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid have gone through a period of many ups and downs this season, having rough patches where Modric’s experience could have been crucial. Still, Real’s loss is the Rossoneri’s gain.
