Islamabad, May 26, 2025: Luka Modric said goodbye to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday after Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-0 in the team’s last game of the LaLiga season.
Modric, who has won a club record 28 trophies with Madrid, will leave after this summer’s Club World Cup in the United States, where the team will be coached by Xabi Alonso, whose arrival is expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
Modric has spent 13 years at Madrid, becoming one of the most influential midfielders in the club’s long history. He won four La Liga titles and six UEFA Champions League crowns during his years at Real Madrid. His contract will expire this summer, after Madrid’s involvement in the Club World Cup is concluded.
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“The moment I never wanted to come has arrived,” Modric said, speaking to the Bernabéu crowd. “It’s been a long, marvellous journey. I want to thank the club, the president Florentino Pérez, all the coaches I’ve had all these years, my teammates, and all the people who’ve helped me.
“We’ve won a lot, we’ve had marvellous moments, we’ve won a lot of trophies, but the biggest trophy I’ve won has been your affection, and your love. There’s a phrase I like: don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
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Kylian Mbappé scored twice, once in each half in Madrid’s win over Real Sociedad, to give Luka Modric a winning send-off.
The club has begun strengthening the squad for the upcoming season, confirming the arrival of defender Dean Huijsen. According to news sources, the club is also eyeing a move for Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of the Club World Cup and is pursuing a deal for Benfica left-back Álvaro Carreras.
