“I will return to Real Madrid on one condition” – Luka Modric on “50-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo”, Jose Mourinho and the Negrira case
AC Milan star Luka Modric has confirmed that he is still and will continue to be a Real Madrid fan, while also revealing his deep love for his current club since childhood.
Modric said in an extensive interview with:like“I feel good. I am very happy with my life in Milan. From day one, I received a warm welcome from the club and the fans, and that makes me happy. The city is beautiful, different from Madrid, but I love it too. “I’m enjoying my time here and I’m happy.”
He continued: “Real Madrid is the greatest team in history, and Milan is also a great team, the second most successful team in European titles after Madrid, and this is evidence of its greatness. It is true that they have not won the title for a long time, but they remain a historic club with a rich history, and all they need is to regain the level they had in the 1990s, the new millennium and beyond.”
The veteran midfielder added: “I grew up watching a lot of Italian football because Italy is close to Croatia, and I follow it passionately. At that time, it was perhaps the strongest league in the world, as is the English Premier League now, and it had great players. Milan was my favorite team in my childhood, the team I admired. In the end, I never expected my path to lead me here, but life holds us surprises, and here I am.”
Ancelotti’s advice to Modric
When asked what Carlo Ancelotti told him about Milan, he replied: “When we were in Madrid, we would sometimes talk about Milan, and he would tell me about his experience and his story with Milan. He called me when he knew that I would not continue with Madrid, and that he would not continue either. He called me a few days later because he knew about Milan, as they asked him about me.”
Regarding his retirement after reaching 41 years, he said: “There seems to be a common idea that when a person reaches a certain age, it is better to retire and step down, but I do not see it that way as long as I feel satisfied, because this is my life. I love what I do, I really love football, and I am happy and enjoy it. I have been doing this job for more than 30 years, I started when I was a six-year-old child, and I know that it cannot last as long as other jobs.”
He pointed out: “But for me, this is not a job, it is something that I love. When you do something that you love, you do not consider it work. It is something that I enjoy every day, and as long as I feel satisfied and see that I can accomplish what is required of me or what I have to do, I want to continue. How long will this last? I know that the end is approaching, but I do not know whether it will be this year or next year.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is a phenomenon and a fierce beast
In response to a question about Cristiano Ronaldo and whether he could reach 1,000 goals, Modric said: “Cristiano is an amazing player, he is a phenomenon, a ferocious beast, and I have no doubt that he will achieve this number. Everything he has done, everything he continues to do, the way he competes, and gives his best match after match, is something to admire.”
He continued: “I have a special affection for him for what we achieved together at Real Madrid, and that is why I hope he will achieve this number as soon as possible. But he has at least another year, and I am sure, as I said, that he will do it. This is something incredible. I do not know how long he will want to continue playing, but he will continue to score goals even if he wants to continue until the age of 50. His talent for scoring goals is amazing, and above all, his character, his skills.” His belief and self-confidence, it’s all unbelievable.”
Regarding the exit from the World Cup against Portugal, Ronaldo commented: “It was a very disappointing loss. I think we played a great match, and we were the better team than Portugal, especially in the second half, and we could have decided the match early. As for technology, I think it is useful for football in some respects, but I see that it is used poorly and selectively, to determine who is stronger or something like that. I do not like to talk about these matters, but in that match it was not only about the latter.” “The goal, but also about the penalty kick.”
Turning to the match between Spain and Croatia on September 26 and whether he will participate, Luca said: “Well, first I have to decide and speak with the federation and the new coach who has just started. We have an excellent relationship. I started my career with the national team with him in the under-21 team. The first one who called me to the first team was Zlatko Kranjcar, but after the World Cup, Slaven Bilic came, who is the current coach, and we spent six years together during which we achieved many achievements.”
Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid
Regarding Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid, he said: “You can see from the first few matches that this is a different Real Madrid. Real Madrid is terrifying, and that’s what I like. I think appointing Mourinho was a very wise decision by the club, because he is the perfect choice for this position considering the team and everything.”
He continued: “He knows the club well, he is a winner, he has a great personality, and I have special appreciation for him because he was the one who brought me here, and he is the most important factor in my joining. He told the club: I want him or I don’t want anyone else. That’s why I have all this warmth and respect for him. My only regret is not working with him for a longer period.”
He continued: “I worked with him for a year and learned a lot about how to do my job to the fullest, how to fight and how to give my maximum… His way of preparing for matches was amazing. I would enter the field knowing exactly what was going to happen. I think he is the perfect choice, and that he will bring a lot of happiness to Real Madrid fans, and Real Madrid will be a very dangerous team in all competitions.”
His voice softened again: “Mourinho is special to me because he struggled to sign me. This is something unforgettable. I would do anything for him. Even though we don’t talk much, we exchange letters sometimes, but I always wish him all the best. I think he’s in the right place because he’s at the best club in the world, and he’s one of the best coaches in history. This partnership is excellent, and it will definitely worry other teams.”
The love of the fans is among Modric’s greatest achievements
In his farewell from the Real Madrid fans, Modric commented: “I consider my greatest achievement, despite having won many titles, to be the love of the Real Madrid fans. I find it difficult to find the right words to express my gratitude for this great love. I felt it from day one, even during that rather difficult period upon my arrival. In the stands and in the streets I felt people’s love for me, and this love has become stronger over time. For me, this is more important than any title.”
Asked why he had won more Champions League titles than La Liga titles, and whether it was linked to the famous Negrera affair, Modric said: “Well, I don’t know. It’s a really unusual situation. I won’t talk about it because I don’t like it. In my time, why did we win more Champions League titles than La Liga titles? I think it was because we didn’t focus on day-to-day matters; we thought we had plenty of time to correct mistakes, whereas in the Champions League we knew we couldn’t afford any more.” “slip”.
He added: “We did what we did in the Champions League because we knew that failure meant exit from the tournament. In the Spanish League, we always thought we could make up points, but Barcelona was very strong and did not allow us to do that. That is why I think we won fewer titles in the Spanish League than in the Champions League during that period, but I would not change anything.”
Returning to the Negrera case, he said: “Of course this is not normal, but I do not follow this issue much. It is not normal, but I think we also bear part of the responsibility for not winning more league titles.”
Ballon d’Or in 2018
Regarding breaking Cristiano and Lionel Messi’s dominance of the Ballon d’Or in 2018, Modric said: “Yes, it is an incredible thing. It is the greatest individual award ever, and there is nothing greater than it. And winning it in an era of exceptional players like Cristiano Ronaldo, and even with other great players competing for it every year like Neymar, Karim Benzema and many others. Winning it was a wonderful feeling. I feel very happy and very satisfied when I receive the Ballon d’Or when I win it.” Look at the list of players who have won it.”
He continued: “Also, being from a small country, it is always much more difficult for us compared to players from big countries like Spain, Italy, Germany and France; we have to put in double the effort. This feeling makes me even more proud of this award. But I always say that the most important thing is the team, and that does not change. It is a wonderful recognition of the wonderful season I had with Real Madrid, and above all, with Croatia; and that is why I am very happy.”
In response to the question of who will win the award this year, he replied: “Honestly, I don’t know, and I don’t want to name anyone or determine who deserves it more. People vote and decide the winner. There are many candidates from Real Madrid and other teams. We will see who wins. I don’t want to go into names.”
Regarding Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, he said: “They are wonderful. I am very happy that Vinicius renewed his contract with the club. It would not have been good if he had not done so, given everything he offers. Kylian is amazing: the ease with which he scores goals, his speed and agility are amazing… but the one closest to me is Jude, because he is a midfielder like me.”
Bellingham could be captain
He added: “Yes, Bellingham can be a leader. The Bernabeu fans appreciate his dedication and sincerity on the pitch, where he gives his best. They appreciate not only his talent, but also his work ethic. What he did in the World Cup and his start this year is amazing; I hope he continues like this.”
Regarding the possibility of him returning to Real Madrid after retirement, in any position, Modric said: “I hope that happens. Real Madrid is my home and it will always be so. I will always be a Madridist for what I lived there. Those were the best years of my professional and personal life. I hope to return one day, but we will see in what role. I am a person who likes to do his job well and be useful. I will not return to Real Madrid just for the sake of my name, to be there without really knowing what I am doing.” “I can’t do a job like this. If I come back, I want to be useful, important and a key player in whatever I do.”
