Eternal Modric

Luka Modric begins to acquire the halo of a mythological animal, almost a white unicorn. Each crow's foot that comes out embellishes his football and makes it more complete if possible. Against Atalanta squeezed his physique as a starter for the fourteenth time in the last fifteen Real Madrid games (He has played 35 of the 37 of the white team this course) and he had the luxury of playing Casemiro and that the change was not noticed in the least.

Without the Brazilian, Modric set about stealing Gasperini's wallet. The same was seen behind doing the improvised right side that biting up like a whirlwind. That's where his masterful spur interception came from, which he exchanged for Benzema's 1-0 assist. Up to 16 balls recovered, the one with the most of the game, seven more than the next, Kroos, his tandem partner … Casemiro could see the game relaxed thanks to the numbers, worthy of a defensive specialist and that seem inappropriate for his physical constitution. That is part of his charm and intelligence regarding the game, which Zidane is right in his idea of ​​using and using Modric without looking at his date of birth.

Modric has approved his renewal for one more season, but it seems until a short time. Madrid's tradition, logically imposed by Santiago Bernabéu, of renewing thirty-something players year after year, seems out of date in today's football. Madrid returned Bergamo to Atalanta eliminated with goals from Benzema (33 years old), Ramos (34) and that imperial night from Modric (35), the old man of the squad. Karim predicted last Monday that with modern techniques it is possible to play in the elite “with 39 years” and the Croatian navigates in that line. Maybe it's time to invent lifetime renewals …

In the hands of a kinesiologist guru

Modric's reliability is palpable. Since March 2018, he has only missed six games due to injury., the best endorsement to convince the club that his physique is not an impediment. It's more, In nine years at Madrid he has always played more than 40 games per year except for two, 2014-15 (due to a muscle tear) and 2016-17 (due to a knee problem that took him 39 days off). Modric's secret is in the mind of a Croatian fitness guru, Vlatko Vucetic, a professor at the Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology. With care he prepared a specific plan for the midfielder to recover his efforts and nutrition, and Luka fulfills it with a Stakhanovistic spirit. “How old do I see myself as a football player? 27 years old,” the Croatian laughed. “He is 35, but they are not noticeable,” Zidane said amusedly. He knows it well, because he retired younger than his ward, at 34 years old.

Who better, therefore, to perceive that Modric's biological passport, by reusing the term, does not expire. The 10 Madrid has frozen the clock and continues to squeeze his football intelligence. The one he wants to apply in the future as a coach, the goal he has on the horizon after retirement. “If he wants to be a technician, he will be, because he has it inside”Zizou confirmed last night. Who knows if, as Zidane and now Raúl did, starting from Factory…