Legendary Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric is set to bid adieu to the club after spending 13 successful years with them. The 39-year-old Croatian, who has won six Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles with the club, confirmed on Thursday that he will leave them following the conclusion of the Club World Cup.
Modric joined the Los Blancos in 2012 and has so far played a total of 590 games for them. His final match at the Santiago Bernabeu is set to be a La Liga clash against Real Sociedad on May 24 as Real Madrid wrap up a rare trophyless campaign.
"Dear Madrid fans, 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," Modric said in a heartfelt message for the fans.
Modric has been at the core of Real Madrid's success for the past 13 years and has given several incredible performances for the Spanish Giants throughout his time with the club. However, his final season with them proved to be a dissapointing one as the Los Blancos weren't able to lift a single trophy and got defeated by arch-rivals Barcelona on all the four occasions where they faced-off. The Croatian also reflected on his journey with Real, stating that playing for the club changed him as a person.
"I arrived in 2012 with the desire to wear the shirt of the best team in the world and with the ambition to do big things, but I couldn't imagine what came next. Playing at Real Madrid changed my life as a soccer player and as a person," Modric's social media post read.
"I feel proud to have been part of one of the most successful eras of the best club in history. Throughout these years I've experienced incredible moments, comebacks that seemed impossible, finals, celebrations and magical nights at the Bernabeu... We won everything and I was very happy. Very very happy," Modric further wrote in the post.
It is expected to be quite an emotional day at the Santiago Bernabeau on Saturday as the fans will bid adieu to one of the finest players to ever play for their club.