Luka Modric has confirmed he will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on a remarkable 12-year career at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Croatian maestro, who joined Los Blancos from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, will make his final appearance for the club on Saturday when Real Madrid host Real Sociedad in their last match of the campaign.
Modric, now 39, leaves an indelible legacy in the Spanish capital, having made 590 appearances and claimed an astonishing 28 trophies. His haul includes six UEFA Champions League titles and four LaLiga crowns, as well as a host of domestic and international honours.
In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, Modric paid tribute to the club, his teammates, and the supporters, stating:
“The time has come. The moment I never wanted to come, but that’s football, and in life everything has a beginning and an end… On Saturday I will play my last match at the Santiago Bernabeu.”
Reflecting on his arrival in 2012, Modric said he could never have foreseen the success that would follow.
“I arrived with the hope of wearing the jersey of the best team in the world and the ambition to achieve great things, but I couldn’t have imagined what came next. Playing for Real Madrid changed my life as a football player and as a person.”
He went on to express his gratitude to the club’s president, Florentino Perez, as well as to his coaches, teammates and all those who supported him throughout his time in Madrid.
“We won everything, and I was very happy. Very, very happy. But beyond the titles and victories, I carry the affection of all Real Madrid fans in my heart.”
Modric reserved special thanks for the fans, describing the bond he shares with them as “a special connection” that has left him feeling “supported, respected, and loved.”
“I’m leaving with a full heart. Full of pride, gratitude, and indelible memories. And although, after the Club World Cup, I won’t wear this shirt on the pitch again, I will always be a Real Madrid fan. We will meet again. Real Madrid will always be my home. For life.”
Modric will bid farewell to the Santiago Bernabeu alongside manager Carlo Ancelotti, who is also set to part ways with the club at the end of the season.
As one of the defining midfielders of his generation and a key figure in one of the most successful periods in Real Madrid’s storied history, Luka Modric departs not just as a legend, but as a symbol of elegance, loyalty, and excellence in football.