Croatian midfielder Luka Modric will reportedly reject Inter Milan’s advances in favour of a stay Real Madrid and sign a new bumper contract.
According to reports from Spanish outlet AS, Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has decided to sign a new contract with the club, putting an end to Inter Milan’s hopes of signing him this summer.
The Croatian international has been heavily linked with a move to the Serie A giants over the past few weeks, with Inter manager Luciano Spalletti publicly declaring the club’s interest in the midfielder. The Nerrazzurri are understood to be willing to offer a €10 million-a-year deal to lure Modric away from the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
Reports earlier in the month claimed that the 32-year old too was open to a move and would ask Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to sanction a sale. However, the Madrid supremo had ruled out a sale, saying that the only way Modric would leave was if another club triggered his €750 million release clause.
And, as per the latest reports, Modric, after discussions with his family, has decided to stay put in the Spanish capital. The former Tottenham Hotspur man will sign a new contract with the reigning European champions that will see him earn as much as current top earners at the club, Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos.
It is understood that Modric is currently on a salary of €6.5 million a year, while both Bale and Ramos make €11 million per year in wages. And the new contract being offered by the club will see the 32-year old’s wages rise to the same level as the two superstars.
Modric joined Los Blancos six years ago from Tottenham Hotspur and has gone onto establish himself as one of the best midfielders in the game at the moment. The Croatian international has made over 250 appearances for the Spanish capital outfit, winning 14 trophies, including four UEFA Champions League triumphs.
The 32-year old had an excellent run in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as he led Croatia to their first ever finals of the tournament, where they were beaten by France. He was named the best player in quadrennial extravaganza, receiving the Golden Ball in recognition of his performances.
Despite his advancing age, Modric remains an extremely pivotal part of the Real Madrid setup. And losing him at a time when the club is going through somewhat of a transformation, following the departures of former manager Zinedine Zidane and star player Cristiano Ronaldo, will have been a bitter blow.
The news of his impending contract extension will come as a boost for the Merengues as they look to wrestle back the La Liga title from the clutches of arch-rivals Barcelona, under new manager Julen Lopetegui.
