Luka Modric’s illustrious journey at Real Madrid came to an end with their elimination from the Club World Cup.
Los Blancos were on the receiving end of a crushing 4-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal of the Club World Cup on July 9.
The match ended in a heartbreak for Real Madrid, not only as it concluded their journey in the competition, but also because it was the last time Modric was on the pitch wearing his iconic No. 10 shirt for the Spanish giants.
Back in May, Modric announced his decision to part ways with Real Madrid after 13 long years at Santiago Bernabeu following the Club World Cup.
After the final whistle in the match against PSG, Modric was filled with emotions and was consoled by his former teammate and now head coach, Xabi Alonso, while receiving a hero’s reception from the squad.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was also present at the match and paid Modric a heartwarming tribute with tears in his eyes.
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Speaking after the match, Modric revealed that the club president has always shown him ‘special affection’ while mentioning that the 39-year-old has never seen Perez cry before.
What did Luka Modric say about the Real Madrid club president?
Modric candidly admitted that he was treated ‘differently’ and in a ‘special’ way by Perez, and told Spanish outlet Marca,
“The president has been very important to me, first because he brought me here. Since that moment, he has always shown me special affection, he has always treated me very well,” as per SPORTbible.
“Now I can say it: he treated me differently, he had a very special affection for me. And I think he showed it in my last match, because I had never seen the president cry.”
The Ballon d’Or winner also opened up about how it feels to draw the curtains on over a decade-long run that was filled with success, and added,
“It’s hard to say, but they are mixed emotions. An unforgettable, glorious, and victorious era has ended. What I’ve experienced gives me even more joy. Remembering everything I’ve achieved here makes me very happy, even if it’s over.”
“At Real Madrid, I’ve grown as a player and as a person. Real Madrid has given me everything in football, and for that I’ll be grateful for life. I’ll always be a Real Madrid fan.”
Modric has taken his leave from Santiago Bernabeu as the most decorated player in Real Madrid’s history with 28 trophies, including six Champions League titles and four La Liga titles.
Modric will now start a new chapter of his career with AC Milan in August as the midfield maestro has recently signed a one-year deal with the Serie A giants.
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