Real Madrid Transfers: The alternatives for Luka Modric if he somehow doesn’t renew

Real Madrid have been hard at work renewing the contracts of several key players in recent months, so there most likely will not be another Sergio Ramos situation where a prized member of the club exits in 2022. Even Thibaut Courtois and Fede Valverde signed longer extensions, as Real wanted to ensure these two key players will stay for the long haul. And not get poached away by PSG.

Luka Modric and Karim Benzema are two revered veterans whose contracts are running out soon. Benzema’s renewal is all but a formality, and he has literally been the best player in the world to start the 2021-2022 season, leading everyone in Europe’s top five leagues in total goal contributions.

While Modric’s situation is similar in the sense that every Madridista expects hi renewal, he has not started the season as hot. Modric has not been bad, but he has looked a little slow compared to his usual standard.

Now, he did score a free kick goal for Croatia over the recent international break to signify he still has it. But Modric will be monitored this season, mostly in case Real need to sign another midfielder to hedge their bets. Paul Pogba and Aurelien Tchouameni are squarely on the radar.

Could Luka Modric play for another notable club in Europe?

According to a recent article by Goal.com’s Mario Cortegana, Luka Modric very much wants to continue with Real Madrid, which is no surprise.

Every indication is that Real would like the same, though Cortegana writes that no talks have begun yet. That isn’t an issue, but rather a timing thing. It is too early to have those discussions.

In case Modric does not stay in Madrid, Cortegana lists some of the alternatives. MLS or another league that can offer him a high salary is one possibility, but before all of that Cortegana lists playing for another big club in Europe as a possibility.

After all, Modric is a legend who has shown he can still play at a high level, even if, for whatever reason, Florentino Perez were to decide that the Real Madrid level is not quite where Modric is any longer.

It is very hard to envision Perez making such a decision, but it would not be unprecedented. Every time Perez has been too slow to react to selling a player, he has regretted it. Just look at some of the other names on expiring contracts after the 2021-2022 season, such as Gareth Bale. They are not bad players, but they are no longer key to Real Madrid.

Modric’s next step will 90 percent be in Madrid, but if not, he could probably stick around with a good club in Europe. It would just be weird to see him elsewhere, just as it is very strange to see Sergio Ramos representing the ghoulish PSG.