The second life of Luka Modric

“I talk to them, but players like Modric, Sergio (Ramos), Kroos, Marcelo … although have 30 or more years, can play 6 or 7 more still“. The words by Zinedine Zidane about the possible rotations in this campaign about the hard core, strong and vaulted wardrobe arch and the white team come to mean their absolute confidence in Madrid's key players. One of those figures is living his second youth in the white team: Luka modric. The 35-year-old Croatian, and 2018 Ballon d'Or, is going through a splendid moment at the start of the season, crowned with his splendid 20 minutes in the Madrid victory at the Camp Nou on October 24 and culminated with a goal with the outside of his foot. A goal similar to the one he scored against Valencia in the last January Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Against the Catalans, where he played 350 games in white, the Croatian became master of the match after entering the field of play replacing Valverde. No culé player managed to cover the control, pass and distribution of the Croatian. This campaign is showing formidable data in the league: 398 good passes of 440 attempted (42 errors), almost 45 correct passes per game. Of those almost 400 deliveries, 252 have been in rival territory (63.31%) by 146 in Madrid's field (36.69%), he has recovered 45 balls, lost 32 and won 36 games in 642 minutes. He has participated in the 11 games that Madrid have played so far (he has started seven times: six in the League and one in the Champions League), but he has only completed three full games. Spectacular have been his two goals: the first, in the Champions League against Shakhtar, with a powerful direct right to the squad, while the second put the finishing touch to Barcelona in the Classic. His lifestyle has changed, especially his diet and his results are in sight.

But its influence does not end there. Used as a revulsive by Zidane (He has entered the field from the bench on four occasions), notable was his performance against Borussia Mönchengladbach (he gave 27 passes in just over 20 minutes), which served to get a point on his visit to German soil. The same happened against Inter Milan. Taken in the final stretch of the match, He knew how to maintain control of the ball and distribute it (13 passes out of 14, 93% effective) in the most reassuring way for both his teammates and Zidane.

While he rushes this his last season of contract (although he has already sent a conciliatory message about his future: “I want to continue, although I will accept what the club tells me”), with Valverde's fatal injury and Casemiro's positive for coronavirus, Modric is once again open a new possibility of returning to midfield. If there is no setback, Zidane can return him to ownership against Villarreal. The team will appreciate it. And Luka will once again enjoy his second life with the white shirt …