Pro Sports

Madrid extends Modric's contract, keeps midfield intact

Posted June 08, 2022 7:00 am

By TALES AZZONI

Real Madrid's Luka Modric, right, Real Madrid's Casemiro, center, and Real Madrid's Toni Kroos pose for a photograph with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Sunday, May 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The Associated Press

MADRID (AP) - Real Madrid extended Luka Modric's contract for another year on Wednesday, keeping intact the midfield that helped the club win a record-extending 14th European title this season.

The 36-year-old Croatian signed a new deal with the Spanish club until June 2023 and will return to play alongside Toni Kroos and Casemiro, the trio that helped Madrid win five Champions League titles in the last nine seasons.

'œVery happy to announce that I will continue playing for the best club in the world,'ť Modric said on Twitter and Instagram. 'œI've been fulfilling a dream for the last 10 seasons, and I remain with the same excitement and desire from the first day.'ť

Posing in front of the 14 European titles won by Madrid, Modric held a club jersey with his name and the number 2023.

Modric will be playing an 11th season with Madrid after joining from English club Tottenham in 2012. He has helped Madrid win 20 titles, including three Spanish leagues.

Financial details were not disclosed. His current deal was going to expire at the end of this month.

Madrid is keeping Modric but is already looking to refresh its midfield, as Kroos is 32 years old, and Casemiro is 30.

Last season, Madrid signed 19-year-old Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes, and now it is close to announcing an agreement with 22-year-old AurÃ©lien TchouamÃ©ni from Monaco. Camavinga played often this season, as did 23-year-old Federico Valverde, who has been with the senior team since 2018.

Madrid saved money in recent transfer windows and is expected to boost its attack after missing out on signing Kylian MbappÃ©, the young France forward who preferred to stay at Paris Saint-Germain.

Gareth Bale and Francisco Isco are not staying with the Spanish club next season, and Marco Asencio is also expected to leave.

To boost its defense, Madrid recently signed former Chelsea central defender Antonio RÃ¼diger on a free transfer. It had added former Bayern Munich central defender David Alaba last season. Veteran left back Marcelo is leaving the club.

Madrid won a record-extending 35th Spanish league title this season.

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Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni

Real Madrid's Luka Modric lifts the trophy while celebrating with team mates winning the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Sunday, May 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Real Madrid's Luka Modric is illuminated by a flash while celebrating with team mates winning the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Sunday, May 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Real Madrid's Luka Modric celebrates with the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Sunday, May 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Real Madrid's Luka Modric celebrates with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Sunday, May 29, 2022. Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

Croatia's fans support their team and hold a giant picture of Croatia's Luka Modric before the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Croatia and France at the Poljud stadium, in Split, Croatia, Monday, June 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) The Associated Press

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