Luka Modric’s final Real Madrid game didn’t go as planned with a staggering 4-0 defeat to PSG in the Club World Cup semifinal, but the Croatian midfielder still found a way to show his class off the pitch.
The 39-year-old midfielder bid farewell to Real Madrid after 13 incredible years with the club. A video taken at the Madrid airport in the early hours of Friday showed who Modric might be passing down the midfield responsibility to.
In the video Modric can be seen giving 20-year-old Turkish star Arda Güler his jersey and a warm embrace.
Luka Modric Arda Güler farewell
Luka Modric giving Arda Güler his Real Madrid shirt as he leaves the club.
This is beautiful.— TC (@totalcristiano) July 11, 2025
Modric is the last of Real Madrid’s iconic midfielder trio of the 2010s to depart the club. Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Modric were arguably one of the most successful midfields in history.
Güler will help lead the next generation of the Madrid midfield alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
While the future is bright for the young Turkish star, Modric will look to find some late glory in his career with his new club AC Milan.
Modric has never played in Serie A before with his career spent in LaLiga with Madrid, four years in the Premier League with Tottenham and the start of his career in Croatia.
While Modric’s farewell is bitter sweet, he at least gets to play with the LeBron James of Soccer (Christian Pulisic) in his final few years.
