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‘Silly season’ never ends: Reports link Inter Miami to Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric

Croatian midfielder Luka Modric has played sparingly for Real Madrid so far this season, prompting speculation the club might release him from his contract as early as January. The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner would fit perfectly with Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, but not with the Herons’ future plans.

By Ken Garner

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, a Croatian legend and the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, is the latest European star linked with Inter Miami.
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, a Croatian legend and the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, is the latest European star linked with Inter Miami. / Florencia Tan Jun/GettyImages
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You know how we feel about signing rumors here at Inter Heron: show us a signed contract, or at least a photo of the athlete holding up the new shirt. Site co-expert Matt Clark explained Inter Miami’s situation well earlier this month when Antoine Greizmann was the rumor du jour.

Luka Modric is 38; he’s played just 164 minutes for Real Madrid in five matches, about 32 minutes per match, without a goal contribution. He’s not in the autumn of his career, he’s solidly in mid-winter. But his resume includes leading Croatia to a runner-up finish in the 2018 World Cup, winning four domestic league titles, (three in La Liga), and earning five UEFA Champions League trophies at Real Madrid, and receiving the 2018 Ballon d’Or award, presented to the best player at a European team.

Modric still will command a hefty salary, even if it’s to mentor younger players, sell jerseys and sign autographs in Major League Soccer, and his Real Madrid contract runs through the end of the European season next summer; Los Blancos aren’t likely to wait for him to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires, so they may be willing to listen to trade offers, but it’s unlikely Inter Miami has the flexibility under MLS roster rules to bring in an aging midfielder for his legacy.

Besides, La Rosa Negra already have a cagey veteran midfielder quarterbacking the Herons, one whose career has rivaled that of Modric.
Sergio Busquets doesn’t score as much as Modric (52 goals and 77 assists for his club teams over 17 seasons to 10-33 for Busquets in one fewer season), but has redefined the role of a defensive center mid and, like Modric, been his team’s metronome, helping establish pace and rhythm.

Add to that Busqui’s long partnership with Lionel Messi, renewed at Inter Miami, and the Herons’ exciting young midfield prospects, and one begins to wonder why the club would seriously consider Modric.

The Croatian has been a wonderful player, but I just can’t see him contributing at Club Internacional de Futbol Miami.

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