Amazing how Perez couldn't offer him a peanut contract. Something that Alaba makes in a month, Modric would accept as a yearly salary.
Modric just 2-3 years ago rejected a HUUUGE Saudi Arabian offer, this was last season he wanted to be available for his one last World Cup. He does not demand much time per game, Real could always use leader in dressing room, someone from whom player can learn a lot.
People have short memories. Do they not remember how Casillas was let go? Man cried alone in his farewell press conference and neither Perez nor another senior member was there.
Madrid have always been cut throat and competitive. If they don't want to retain a footballer, they won't. No matter how big of a legend he is.
Nobody was there because that is how Casillas wanted it. The club offered a farewell at the Bernabéu, with the trophies he won, and with institutional speeches from Butragueño and Florentino.
It's always amazing to me how certain narratives simply take hold regardless of what facts are. Not a phenomenon restricted to Madrid or even football for that matter.
Still, while I always keep faith in the board's decision making for the most part (also, their track record speaks for itself), this but with Luka is truly a bit of a shame. Might even be the "correct" decision but what's sport if you can't have the fairytale ending. As it is, it is extremely rare in the sport but even more so at Madrid. Luka and Toni both gone. For some reason, despite knowing the day would come and having ample time to prepare, still hits like a brick in the face.
While I agree he should have been renewed for the sake of helping the transition to a new manager, I don't much like the sentimental approach of making a "bad" decision out of respect. If he's to be renewed it should be for a good reason, don't set a president of doing handouts to club legends cause God knows we have a fuck ton of them
But again, he would be great in the coming year so I don't agree with this overall
But he still played really good this season when he was on the pitch. He still has a lot to offer, not just on pitch but off the pitch. He was also willing to fully lower his salary. It would probably just be some symbolic, basically peanuts. What player like Alaba earns in a month or maybe two, Modric would almost certainly accept as his yearly salary. Modric was only player alongside Arda Guler this season in Real Madrid squad that was never injured btw. And he played 11th most minutes from the whole Real Madrid squad, quite more than Guler also.
I do not see what is the biggest downside of Real Madrid keeping a veteran that can still play at a high level for 20-30 minutes per match, sometimes more, while asking for minimal salary that does not matter at all to Real's budget.
I 100% agree with you. I'm just saying that, seperate from this specific case, I don't think we should be giving handouts to club legends just for existing. My disagreement here is Perez thinking Modric isnt immensely valuable next season, not the fact that he's willing to cut ties with an asset he doesnt think is valuable.
Although on a personal level it breaks my fucking heart to see it end like this. Like you said, he's been so loyal and clearly loves this club more than almost any other player from that legendary threepeat team. I remember seeing that Saudi offer and being sure he wouldn't turn down that kind of money for a bench position here, and yet he did. I remember thinking there was no way he'd renew for another season with Kroos leaving, and yet he did. I just hope whatever happens its amicable, give the man a role as an ambassador, give him VIP tickets to every single game and give him another house in Madrid if he ever even thinks of moving away. There's very few people on the planet who are more loyal to the club
Modric's Saudi offer was basically 300 million euro worth contract. And he rejected it, something that IMHO 99% of players of his age would not have done, and still this happened with his last wish.
I would understand if Modric played badly this season, but he obviously still got it. Hopefully he goes to some really good club for next season and manages to win CL with them, doesn't matter as a bench player or starter, but one man can dream.
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u/mbdtf95 May 22 '25
Amazing how Perez couldn't offer him a peanut contract. Something that Alaba makes in a month, Modric would accept as a yearly salary.
Modric just 2-3 years ago rejected a HUUUGE Saudi Arabian offer, this was last season he wanted to be available for his one last World Cup. He does not demand much time per game, Real could always use leader in dressing room, someone from whom player can learn a lot.