Luka Modric has given an ultimatum to Real Madrid to offer him a better contract or he leaves the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 36-year-old Ballon d’Or winner is in a contract standoff with Real Madrid, led by Florentino Perez. The Croat believes that Madrid is disrespecting him and his service to the club with the latest offer which they have presented to him.
Modric is out of contract at the Spanish club in the summer and wants to renew with Madrid, who also are keen to keep the midfielder, who is still regarded as one of the best in the world even at his age.
However, El Nacional reports that the midfielder wants a two-year contract instead of what the club is currently offering him, which he feels is disrespectful.
Modric is also willing to reduce his salary, per the reports, if he is given the two-year contract he desires, to show his loyalty to the club, where he has stated in the past that he would like to end his career.
Modric joined Madrid from Tottenham in 2013 for around £40 million and has played 411 times for Madrid thus far, scoring 28 times and winning multiple trophies as one of the club’s modern legends.
Manchester City monitoring Modric and Madrid standoff
Manchester City are reportedly weighing up a shock move for Modric, which will depend on the outcome of the contract renewal negotiations between the midfield general and Los Blancos.
Pep Guardiola is said to be ready to welcome the former Spurs man to Manchester City “with open arms” as he seeks to add to his amazing depth in the middle of the park for the Premier League champions.
El Nacional reports that Modric wants to go into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the highest level and so wants to remain at Madrid, but City and Guardiola are ready to offer him a reasonable payday as he nears the end of his playing career.
The report also claims that Modric is open to a Premier League return and would not mind moving to the Etihad if it means he will keep playing at the highest level.
Real Madrid identify Modric replacement
Meanwhile, Los Blancos are already preparing for life after Luka Modric as they enter the race to sign Franck Kessie.
The midfielder is currently at the African Cup of Nations with Cote d’Ivoire, chasing a third title for the Elephants, but is the subject of numerous transfer speculations. The 25-year-old will be out of contract with AC Milan in the summer and is not interested in renewing with the Rossoneri after five seasons at the club.
Liverpool, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have been the clubs interested in Kessie. However, El Nacional now reports that the midfielder has piqued Madrid’s interest as they see him replacing Modric in the squad.
Barcelona looked to be in pole position to sign Kessie but now, Madrid have hijacked that position as they seek to land the powerful box-to-box midfielder to their ranks as they prepare for life after Modric.
Kessie reportedly seeks a lucrative contract and Madrid is up to the task. The midfielder will make a decision after the AfCON tournament.
