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Luka Modric’s prospects of staying at Real Madrid beyond the summer are getting slimmer by the day, with the Croatian, an undisputed starter for over a decade, now a back-up in midfield. Perhaps it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise as no player can continue at the very top level forever, and Modric is now 38 years old. But the former Spurs schemer’s step away from the limelight feels especially abrupt. He has started fewer than half of Los Blancos’ matches this season and has only completed 90 minutes five times.

“Real Madrid is the club of my life”

“I want to keep going because I deserve to, not because it’s gifted to me. I have never been given anything in my life and that won’t start now. Regardless of what happens, nothing is going to change my relationship with Real Madrid – it is the club of my life,” Modric said before the first leg of the Champions League round-of-16 tie againsty Liverpool at Anfield a year ago.

How often has Modric play for Real Madrid in 2023-24?

At that point, the Croat’s contractual situation was as it is now. His deal had four months left and his future was up in the air. But exactly 12 months ago, he had been a much more active part of Carlo Ancelotti’s plans, playing 1,838 minutes in the first few months of the season compared to 1,374 this time around. 464 minutes fewer, a drop of 26%.

In Madrid’s 20-man squad (not counting long-term injury victims Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Eder Militão), Modric ranks only 16th in terms of game time. And the way things are going, he will soon be overtaken by Brahim Díaz (1,184 minutes), who has been in superb form of late.

Modric benched by Ancelotti

The Croatia captain has featured in 27 games in all competitions but has started only 15 of his team’s 35 fixtures, averaging just over a half (50 minutes) per match. Last season, he was an unused substitute in only two games, a number which has already risen to six this time around.

And things appear to be getting worse for the veteran. In Madrid’s last three matches against Atlético Madrid, Girona and RB Leipzig, all crucial in their own way, Modric played 15, 20 and zero minutes respectively.

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Who will decide whether Modric stays at Real Madrid or goes?

“If a young player like Arda Güler warms up but doesn’t play, it doesn’t matter. But Modric, at 39, a five-time Champions League winner, a legend…I can’t do that to him. He knows that,” explained Ancleotti in a press conference several weeks ago, getting his player’s age wrong. Since then, Modric hasn’t even been sent out to warm up in four different matches, most recently in Leipzig on Tuesday.

“He is a legend of the sport and of this club. He’ll have to make a decision about next season himself,” added the coach, placing the ball firmly in Modric’s court. But Ancelotti is also of the mind that you should go out at the very top and that could well influence the Croatian, who will have to decide one way or another sooner rather than later.

It is only logical to think the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner would have even less of a part to play were he to stay on for another year. While Modric’s future remains uncertain, many would argue his lack of game time this season means it should be relatively clear. As it stands, a contract extension looks less and less likely.