Against him Getafe, Modric returned to complete the 90 minutes. Croatian is fireproof. At 35 he is one of the players most used by Zinedine Zidane. This season adds 2,074 minutes between all competitions, spread over a total of 28 games. He is the fourth outfield player who has been on the pitch the longest, only behind Varane (2,475), Benzema (2,297) and Casemiro (2,166).
In the League, only one match has been lost so far this year (against Pomegranate due to an overload). He has played all the others (21), being a starter in 19. In total, he accumulates 1,636 minutes in local competition (83% of the total). With yesterday, It is already ten times that he completes the 90 ', and the third in a row (he already did it against Levante and Huesca). He is also one of the team leaders in passes completed (2nd with 1,131) and dribbles (1st with 39).
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This amount of minutes is due to several factors. While the idea of Zidane at the beginning of the season it was to dose the Croatian, as he demonstrated in the first matches of League Y Champions, the lack of spare parts in its position has forced it to use it much more than expected.
First, it is necessary to count on the little participation of Odegaard and his subsequent departure to Arsenal. The Norwegian should be the main alternative, but he did not have enough minutes and neither did his performance allow him to enter the rotation. To this can be added the low performance of Isco, who has gone from being one of the coach's proteges to requesting an exit in the absence of minutes. His level is very far from what was shown in previous seasons. Finally, injuries to Fede Valverde, which have already made him miss ten games.
Modric's great moment of form comes after completing his renovation. Although not official yet, the club and the player have agreed to extend the contract for another year, until June 2022, so he would end his stage with 36 (if he does not renew one more). After nine seasons at Madrid, Modric has become a legend. Plus four Champions, two Suspenders and one Cup of the King, the Croatian has won a Golden Ball (2018) with the white t-shirt.
LaLiga Santander
* Data updated as of February 10, 2021