Luka Modric has turned down a mouth-watering contract offer from the Saudi Pro League in favour of remaining with Real Madrid.
According to Calciomercato, the offer came from Al-Hilal, who proposed a three-year contract worth a staggering €200 million to tempt the Croatian into switching Europe for the Middle East.
However, their attempts have proven unsuccessful, with the 37-year-old opting to remain with Los Blancos for at least one more season.
Modric’s contract with Madrid runs out at the end of this month. But there is a fresh proposal from the club to extend his stay for another year which the midfielder has approved after a recent meeting with Florentino Perez.
He could have reunited with his former teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the Saudi Pro League, with the latter recently completing a mega-money move to Al-Ittihad.
However, despite winning everything there is in European football, the ever-green midfield maestro is keen to remain in Madrid, where his family is settled.
Modric joined Los Blancos in 2012 and has spent 11 trophy-laden years at the Bernabeu Stadium.
He is keen to help Carlo Ancelotti’s side reclaim their league and European crown after a massively underwhelming campaign.
Madrid are already ahead in their plans for a smooth midfield transition, and their recent splurge to lure the highly sought-after Jude Bellingham to the Bernabeu is further proof.
Bellingham cost the La Liga giants an astonishing €100 million to secure his signature, but the highly rated youngster could prove good value for money.
It is unclear whether Bellingham’s arrival will mean reduced playing time for Modric, who is still performing at a high level despite approaching the twilight of his illustrious career.
Modric is currently on international duty with Croatia and will be focused on leading Zlatko Dalic’s side to Nations League glory when they take on Spain tomorrow night.
