The former FC Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic has made an important request to Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. With Luka Modric currently in the final year of his contract with the Spanish capital club, the former Croatian international has spoken out in support of his 39-year-old compatriot.
Real Madrid is gradually losing the key figures of its success in recent years. Following the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, and more recently Nacho Fernandez, the Madrid club now faces the possibility of parting ways with three veterans of the current squad. Besides Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez, who are nearing the end of their cycle at Real, Luka Modric appears the most likely to leave at the moment. At 39 years old, the Croatian midfielder is in the final months of his contract. Despite his desire to extend his journey with Florentino Pérez’s club, which he joined in 2012 (562 matches and 43 goals), no progress has been made.
Rakitic’s plea for Modric
A former teammate of the Madrid veteran in the Croatian national team and a rival in La Liga, Ivan Rakitic (36), who shone during his time at Barça (2014-2020, 310 matches, 35 goals), has sent a heartfelt message to the Real Madrid president. In an interview with the daily Marca at La Finca Golf Resort, Rakitic, now playing for Hajduk Split in Croatia’s top division, urged Florentino Pérez to grant Luka Modric a new contract, describing him as one of the last rare gems of modern football.
“I hope Florentino Pérez listens to me very carefully… Florentino, renew his contract immediately! Renew it, not just for the Madridistas but for all of us who love football. Luka is one of the few players admired by everyone: Croatians, Spaniards, Germans, Turks…,” Rakitic began, before addressing the significant risk Real Madrid would face by letting the veteran leave at the end of the season.
“[If he leaves], Real Madrid will regret it, La Liga will regret it. He must continue playing in the Champions League, and I hope he will also play in next year’s World Cup. Age does not matter. I hope we can continue enjoying his talent,” Rakitic emphasised in his remarks to Marca reporters.
The undeniable importance of Modric
This heartfelt message is surely one that will resonate with Modric. Despite reduced playing time in recent months due to fierce competition in midfield, the former Tottenham player remains a vital figure in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. Without the magic of Toni Kroos, who used to masterfully orchestrate the midfield alongside Luka, Real Madrid has struggled to dazzle this season. As evidenced by the team’s significant challenges in major matches, finding a new midfield maestro has become an urgent need.
Although players like Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, Federico Valverde, and Dani Ceballos possess undeniable talent, none have been able to fill the void left by Luka Modric. In the first match of 2025 at Mestalla against Valencia CF (a 2-1 victory), it was the oldest player in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad who sparked the comeback with an equaliser despite being down to 10 men, setting the stage for the winning goal in added time.
One final year to bow out in 2026?
Now, Florentino Pérez has the opportunity to offer a significant gesture to the Croatian national team captain. Given that his profile is yet to be replicated within the current squad, which lacks consistency in midfield, Real Madrid could heed Ivan Rakitic’s call to extend Modric’s contract until June 2026. Should this extension materialise, Modric would likely end his Real Madrid career at 40 and possibly compete in the 2026 World Cup with Croatia, provided they qualify.
Considered one of the rare midfielders in modern football, as noted by renowned Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa, Luka Modric still has a few masterpieces left to create before hanging up his boots. For now, the ball is in Florentino Pérez’s court.
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