Real Madrid's $38M Star Would Accept Pay Cut To Extend Stay At Los Blancos: Report

Croatia captain Luka Modric reportedly would accept a pay cut to extend his stay at Real Madrid.

Luka Modric’s current deal with Real Madrid is due to end on June 30, 2021, but the 35-year-old is desperate to continue his run with the Santiago Bernabeu side and see out his playing days with Los Blancos, as reported by Spanish media out Marca.

The Croatian midfielder kickstarted his youth career at his home club Zadar in 1996 before he moved to Dinamo Zagreb four years later. In 2008, Modric had a leap in his career when Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur signed him. He made a name for himself during his four-year stint with Spurs, where he scored 17 goals in 159 competitive matches, but he finally became a star when he bagged the dream deal of Real Madrid in 2012. The Spanish giants acquired the services of Modric at a fee of $38 million.

His career’s best year was 2018, where he won the Golden Ball as he led Croatia to their maiden FIFA World Cup final and also claimed the prestigious Ballon d’Or. He was the first player to win the award, which is presented by France Football, other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo since 2007.

Modric’s family has well settled in Madrid now and he wants to finish his playing career in the Spanish capital before starting a new chapter in his life, post soccer, as per the same Marca report. The midfielder had his best season with Real Madrid in 2019-20, where he scored five goals and played a vital role in the club winning the league title after a gap of three years.

Earlier, Modric told Spanish media outlet COPE's El Partidazo that he wants to end his career at Real Madrid before adding that the final decision is not in his hands.

"Of course, I want to stay at Real Madrid, but it doesn't depend on just me. It depends on what the club wants and the coach as well. I feel good and my desire would be to finish my career at Real Madrid if possible, although I don't want to be a problem for Real Madrid or the coach. We have a good relationship and I am sure that we will come to an agreement so that I stay or go to another club. "Real Madrid is my home and it's my ninth season and I'm very happy. We will see what will happen, I don't like talking about hypothetical situations as I still haven't spoken with the president," added Modric in the same interview.