Doors open for Real Madrid legend to return to the club as retirement looms

Doors open for Real Madrid legend to return to the club as retirement looms According to AS , Real Madrid legend Luka Modric could be approaching the final chapter of one of football’s most remarkable careers. The Croatian midfielder is set to become a free agent in the coming days as his contract with AC Milan expires, and despite receiving several offers, there is growing uncertainty over whether he still has the motivation to continue competing at the highest level. Real Madrid return not ruled out With retirement looming, one possibility for Modric that continues to circulate is a return to Real Madrid in a non-playing capacity. While no formal discussions have been reported, both the club and Modric have consistently expressed the strong bond that remains between them. Modric left Real Madrid in 2025. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) The veteran midfielder bid goodbye to the club back in 2025, bringing an end to a successful 13-year stint at the Santiago Bernabeu. In that time, he made nearly 600 appearances for Los Blancos and won more than 20 trophies, making him one of the most decorated players in the history of the club. And the doors are open for a future return should he decide to hang his boots in the coming weeks. Focus on World Cup for now For now, Modric’s focus is entirely on Croatia and one final attempt to lead his country deep into another World Cup. As always, Modric remains the heartbeat of the Croatian national team heading into the 2026 World Cup. Modric to retire after the World Cup? (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) For the Real Madrid legend, this will be his fifth World Cup. He has already made 18 appearances in the competition, meaning more than half of Croatia’s World Cup matches have featured their iconic midfielder. Given his contract situation and recent comments surrounding his future, this tournament may represent his final appearance on football’s biggest stage. Whether he chooses to continue playing afterwards or finally calls time on his career, the tournament is likely to serve as the last major act of a footballer who has left an indelible mark on the game.