Former FC Barcelona player Ivan Rakitic has made a significant appeal to Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. With Luka Modric currently in the final year of his contract at the Spanish club, Rakitic has voiced his support for the 39-year-old Croatian midfielder.
Real Madrid is gradually losing some of its key figures from recent successful years. After the departures of stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, and most recently, Nacho Fernandez, the club now faces the potential loss of three other seasoned players. Along with Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez, who are nearing the end of their time at the club, Luka Modric stands as the most likely to depart. The Croatian midfielder, at 39, is in the final months of his contract. Although he hopes to extend his time with Real Madrid, where he has been since 2012 (with 562 appearances and 43 goals), no progress has been made on a new deal. Ivan Rakitic, who played alongside Modric in the Croatian national team and was a rival in La Liga during his time at Barça (2014-2020, 310 appearances, 35 goals), has reached out to Pérez. Speaking in an interview with Marca at La Finca Golf Resort, Rakitic, who now plays for Hajduk Split in Croatia, urged Florentino Pérez to offer Modric a new contract, calling him one of the last “rare gems” of modern football.
“I hope Florentino Pérez listens carefully… Florentino, renew his contract immediately! Do it, not only for Madrid fans but for all of us who love football. Luka is one of the few players admired by everyone: Croatians, Spaniards, Germans, Turks…” Rakitic stated, before stressing the risk Real Madrid would face if Modric were to leave. “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 to enjoy his talent,” Rakitic added in his comments to Marca reporters.The Crucial Role of Modric
This heartfelt plea is sure to strike a chord with Modric. Despite having less playing time recently due to stiff competition in midfield, the former Tottenham player remains a crucial member of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. Real Madrid has struggled this season, particularly without the presence of Toni Kroos, who once partnered with Luka to control the midfield. The team has faced significant challenges in key matches, highlighting the pressing need for a new midfield leader.
Although players such as Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, Federico Valverde, and Dani Ceballos have shown potential, none have been able to fill the gap left by Modric. In the first match of 2025 against Valencia CF at Mestalla (a 2-1 victory), it was Modric, the oldest player in Ancelotti’s squad, who ignited the comeback by scoring the equalizer despite being down to 10 men, ultimately setting up the winning goal in added time.