Abraham P. Romero Madrid
Madrid
Updated Wednesday, January 31, 2024-22:11
Luka Modric
is surely his favorite player's favorite player. At
38 years old
, on his way to turning 39 next September, the Croatian midfielder has earned the affection of teammates, coaches and football fans. Only and exclusively football.
Five Champions Leagues
with
Real Madrid
and a constant guerrilla aboard that tireless boat that is the Croatian team,
runners-up
in the
2018 World Cup and third in 2022
, with a
Ballon d'Or
for
Luka
in between. For this reason, for what he means to young people and for his achievements on the pitch, a tolerant and wise guy like Carlo Ancelotti has more respect for him than for others. As simple as that. So forceful. That's "
logical
", they say in Valdebebas.
The Italian admitted on Saturday in
Las Palmas
a situation that has caught the attention of many away from the white environment: "Luka has not warmed up because if I am not sure that he is going to play, I don't put him to warm up. If I have doubts, I prefer that he not hot.
I must respect him
."
A preferential and "logical" treatment, they confess from the Madrid sports city. No one is shocked by the "
great respect
" that Modric has in the white team. Not even young people like
Arda Güler
, who have been seen on the sidelines, exercising without jumping onto the field, during several games. "It's about giving it naturalness," insist sources close to the white locker room.
Sixth midfielder
The reality, yes, is that with the return of
Tchouaméni and Camavinga
, Modric has taken a step back in Ancelotti's rotation. The Croatian began the season as a substitute in the first three games and was left without playing in two after the defeat at the Metropolitano, but found some stability in the eleven with the injuries of his French teammates. To the point that between
October 7 and January 3
he started 13 of 19 games, missing two of them due to injury.
But again, after starting at the Metropolitano, he left the eleven against Almería and Las Palmas and has not even warmed up, starting again the rumors about his future.
His contract ends in June
, as is usual for those over 30 years of age, but neither the player nor the club are currently concerned about the situation and there will be no problems in finding a solution.
Modric still sees himself in Madrid
and Ancelotti still sees him as having more than enough virtues to contribute and prefers to leave the decision about his future in the hands of the Croatian, whom he adores, and perhaps because of that, because of what he may need from him. At certain times and because of what he has been given over the years, he has a different attitude towards him than towards young people.
"
I said what I think . A young man like Güler, if he warms up and doesn't play, nothing happens, but Modric, at 38 years old, with five Champions League titles and being a legend... I can't do it. He knows it,"
Carletto
commented this Wednesday
in the Valdebebas press room.
The zero minutes against
Almería and Las Palmas
have raised the rumors, but the Madrid coaching staff prefers to go to the important days. There, for now, Modric is one more. In the Champions League he has been a starter in three of the six group stage matches, he came out on top in the September derby, he was a substitute in the October classic and in the Super Cup he alternated starting in the semi-finals with the bench, playing ten minutes. in the end.
In a midfield with
Tchouaméni, Kroos, Valverde, Bellingham, Camavinga, Ceballos and Modric
, Ancelotti has to do puzzles every week to maintain the competitiveness and motivation of his players in a scheme that allows only four midfielders in the eleven.
Valverde and Bellingham, and almost Kroos
, are indisputable. The Uruguayan is the midfielder with the most minutes (2,446) and the second most used field player after
Rüdiger
. The British accumulated 2,328 and the German, shining in one of his best seasons, 1,882.
Tchouaméni and Camavinga
, who have been through the infirmary, add 1,472 and 1,361, while Modric has to settle for 1,250. A figure that does not bother the club, which like Ancelotti, will leave the decision of his renewal in the hands of the Croatian.
A few months ago, Modric already said "no" to a tempting offer from
Saudi Arabia
. He was still bitten by the bug of European competitiveness and the desire to equal Marcelo and Benzema as the player with the most titles in white history. This summer, the daisy will be in his hands again.