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Luka Modric is one of many Real Madrid players staring at an uncertain future at Santiago Bernabeu.
The midfielder only has six months remaining on his current deal at the Bernabeu, with many expecting him to leave after the end of the season.
Modric could have been playing elsewhere even now had it not been for a late change of heart. He was highly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer, especially after Real Madrid started to put faith in younger midfield options.
Former Al Nassr director confirms Modric links
In a recent interview, former Al Nassr director Goran Vucevic has even confirmed the Modric links, suggesting that he was indeed close to joining Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023.
“It’s true,” said Vucevic (h/t Mundo Deportivo). “Luka was our great wish, we spoke with him on several occasions with all due respect to Real Madrid, which was always his first option.”
Despite the arrival of Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler, Modric decided to stay at Real Madrid in the summer, owing to his good relationship with the club and his eagerness to continue playing at the highest level of football.
Vucevic, though, confirmed that Al Nassr had also harboured a good relationship with Modric.
“We had a good relationship, we met in Riyadh before the World Cup in Qatar and in Madrid. The owners of the club, Modric and I, were in the meetings.
“Luka told us that he was not considering any other options than Real Madrid and Al Nassr. He said his first option was Madrid and if he didn’t stay, he would come. That’s the only truth,” Vucevic added.
It must be noted that Vucevic was one of the masterminds behind Al Nassr’s capture of Cristiano Ronaldo about a year ago.
Praising the Portuguese superstar, Vucevic said, “I have never seen a professional bigger than him. Every morning he was the first to come to the club, long before the others, we sat down, drank coffee, talked.”
As for Modric, the midfielder is indeed in the final few months of his contract and everything suggests he will move on from Bernabeu in the summer, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a possible destination.
Whether or not Modric will stick to his words and join Al Nassr remains to be seen.
