Real Madrid put the win against Levante (6-0) on track in the first half with Modric conducting the orchestra and spreading joy to his teammates. At 36 years old, who will be 37 in September, just around the corner, the Croatian once again showed that he is in force with three assists in just 32 minutes, which have elapsed since he served Mendy the 1-0 ball and until he put Vinicius ahead to make it 4-0; in between, he gave a goal made in the small area to Rodrygo.
On the first occasion, he got rid of an opponent with a feint and threw a long ball before the Frenchman managed to get away from his marker; in the second, he showed nerves of steel centimeters from the goal to temper a low ball, appearing as an improvised winger; and in the last one he gave a perfect touch to triangulate with Vinicius, showing that nothing in football runs like the ball.
An exhibition of passing efficiency in the last third of the field that was accompanied by great statistics in ball movements (55 good passes out of 59) and recoveries (8). He was also able to score, with two shots on goal; one of them, perfectly placed, demanded a save from Cárdenas, who took out both hands to avoid a goal that was already being celebrated, with a threaded launch towards the top corner.
Modric could not score, who is still stagnant in the three goals, although he went out through the front door of the Bernabéu with three assists with which he is in his best season as an assistant ever: he already has 12, surpassing the 11 he gave in 2007-08, still playing in the discreet Croatian league with Dinamo Zagreb; and the 9 that he delivered in 2013-14, already at Real Madrid and under Ancelotti’s orders. The last of those assists was a corner for Sergio Ramos, in the 93rd minute of the Champions League final in Lisbon against Atleti… In a few days, on May 28, in Paris and against Liverpool, Modric will have the opportunity to expand account. Before that, he will surely have minutes against Betis at the Bernabéu, on the last day; it is less probable that he will play before in Cadiz, although not impossible.
Modric’s renewal, ready
At the moment, Modric is enjoying the last days of his contract with Real Madrid, which currently expires on June 30, 2022. But it is a mere formality, since the continuity of the Balkan for another season has been decided. It already happened last year, in which his good performance justified extending his contract despite his then 35 years. Now, with one more, the level has been raised even.
Club and player have called for a meeting at the end of the season to put black on white the agreement that is already outlined. In this sense, Modric has always given Real Madrid facilities: last year he was asked for a small salary reduction to renew for another year, thus promoting the containment of spending that the club had been promoting. Before that, Modric has the opportunity to win his fifth European Cup with Madrid, a club he joined almost ten years ago now.