Luka Modric wants to stay at Real Madrid and says his future will not be dependent on new signings amid interest in Jude Bellingham.
Modric, who has won five Champions League trophies and three Spanish league titles since joining Real Madrid from Tottenham 11 years ago, signed a one-year deal with the Spanish champions at the end of last season.
The 37-year-old central midfielder has not yet held talks with Real over extending his stay but remains calm in regards to his future and says he will give his maximum for the remainder of the season to convince the club’s decision makers.
“I’d like to deserve to stay here on my own merit not just as a freebie,” Modric said ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg at Liverpool.”
“No-one has given me anything for free in my career and I don’t want that to happen now either.
“If the club think I deserve a contract then I’d love to stay, but only on merit. Not just based on what I have done here or my past or the history of what I have achieved.”
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“This is the club of my life and whatever happens between now and the end of the season, no-one can take that away or break that feeling and ruin that relationship”.
Modric has been a key cog in Real’s most successful midfield in the past decade along with Casemiro and Toni Kroos, but the Spanish giants have already begun preparing for life beyond the legendary trio.
Now Real have turned their attention to potential replacements for Modric and Kroos, both of whom are out of contract at the end of this season.
