Luka Modric eyes Real Madrid return upon retirement – “Madrid is my home”
There are a number of Real Madrid legends that are approaching retirement, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric. In the latter’s case, he has already announced that he will no longer player for Croatia, and sooner rather than later, he will surely hang up his boots.
For now, Modric is still as motivated as ever at AC Milan, whom he joined from Real Madrid last summer. He reflected on leaving the club in an interview with Marca, including his final match at the Bernabeu against Real Sociedad in May 2025.
“I remember it with tremendous pride, although it was not an easy day, as you could see in the images of me before the game, on the bus, in the days before when I made the announcement and on the pitch. Although on the pitch I held up quite well and then in the speech… They were days with a lot of emotion, with a lot of emotion, because I knew that the most beautiful stage of my football career was ending.
“But I remember it with great pride, with great emotion. I still see those images sometimes to this day, although more than a year has passed. When you see images of people in the stands crying, all the messages and such, it fills you with pride and satisfaction, knowing that you have done something important at the biggest club in the world.”
He also reflected on being Real Madrid’s most successful player in terms of trophies won with 28, one more than former teammate Dani Carvajal.
“It’s something incredible, really. I never imagined something like this. You arrive at a club where you know that you are going to fight for titles and that this is normal in such a big club, but not in my wildest dreams did I expect that he would be the most successful player in the history of the club. Not because I didn’t trust myself or because I thought I wasn’t going to succeed there, but… how many players have passed through there? How many legends? How many icons of Madrid, of Madridismo? Being the player who has won the most is something incredible, really. I had never imagined it.”
Modric: Mourinho is a winner, he knows Real Madrid
Modric was also asked about Jose Mourinho, whom he worked under for only one season during the Portuguese’s first spell at Real Madrid. He expects his former manager to bring success back to the club after back-to-back seasons without a major trophy.
“Wherever he is, I always wish him the best. When I was in other teams, I always followed him and I was always happy when I had good results. I think the club has made a lot of success with his signing, with his arrival, because he is a winner, a great winner, and he knows the house. Know what it takes to win. And I hope they have a successful season with him. It’s something I always wish for Madrid and for him above all.”
A few months ago, it was rumoured that Modric would return to Real Madrid this summer upon retiring. In the end, he has continued playing for at least one more season, although he confirmed his desire to head back to the Spanish capital when his playing days are over.
“Hopefully. I would like to. If I’m honest, I don’t have to hide it. Madrid is my home and of course one day I would like to return. But we are going to see how and in what role, if that happens. I don’t want to come back just to come back and be there for the sake of being there. I’m not like that. I want to be useful, I want to help Madrid. Not being there and not knowing why I am.
“As Mourinho said recently, we have to work for Real Madrid, to help them in any way, to make them bigger and bigger. Only then would I like to return. But let’s see. It’s my home, I’m a Madridista now and I always will be. If I’m honest, of course I’d like to. But let’s see what life brings you, you never know. My intention is to go back to Madrid and live there, but then you know how things happen. You can never say anything for sure. But hopefully, hopefully it will happen.”
