Real Madrid will reportedly give Luka Modric a free hand on where to play next, and the Ballon d'Or winner can decide in time for the summer transfer window. Modric will see his contract end in 2021, but it is believed he is headed early to the MLS to join up with David Beckham's Inter Miami.
To be clear, however, while the Croatian superstar was given the green light to determine which league or club he is linking with next, a transfer deal will only be allowed at the end of the current campaign.
If true, the leeway afforded to Modric seemed fair enough as his contract with Real mandates he will have to stay at Bernabeu until the season's end next year. And with the Spanish giants now willing to let the midfielder go elsewhere, the door is now open for rival clubs to land the 34-year-old.
The Daily Mail said Modric is likely to leave Europe and get a taste of football in the United States. He is said to be being wooed by Beckham, whose Inter Miami is the latest expansion team in the MLS.
"Beckham is hoping to land Modric as a major signing for his new side as they prepare to make their MLS bow for the 2020 season," the report said.
Admittedly though, Beckham will be bringing in a Modric that is approaching retirement. The Croatian has significantly slid in the pecking order at the Bernabeu, and there is little sign he will see a resurgence of the past that saw him winning honors in domestic and international competitions, including multiple Champions League titles.
In the season so far, Real manager Zinedine Zidane rarely deployed Modric on the pitch and did so as a substitute. As a result, the midfielder has only been seen 13 times in the campaign.
The Sun said if Modric will end his eight-year stay with Real, which he joined from Tottenham in 2012, Real could be tapping Martin Odegaard as a possible replacement. The young Norwegian is currently on loan with Real Sociedad and is deemed a strong candidate to take the spot that Modric will vacate.
Odegaard was instrumental in the recent win of Sociedad over Real Madrid, which saw the latter being eliminated from the Copa Del Rey. The youngster is tipped to be the permanent replacement for Modric, the report added.
Of note, Modric departing from Real could see him winning one more title. The Los Blancos are headed to their last 12 games in La Liga, and if the club can keep on the points separating them from the pack, including arch-rival Barcelona, then the chance is high Real Madrid will take home the crown, which will be the first since the 2017 campaign.
