Luka Modrić may have left Real Madrid as a player, but the Croatian midfielder has made it clear that his relationship with the club is far from over.
The 40-year-old has revealed that he hopes to return to Madrid once his playing career comes to an end, with the possibility of taking up a role at the club he spent 13 remarkable seasons representing.
Modrić left the Santiago Bernabéu in the summer of 2025 as Real Madrid’s most decorated player, having collected an incredible 28 trophies, including six Champions League titles. Yet retirement was never immediately on his mind.
Instead, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner continued his career in Italy with AC Milan. His performances have remained impressive enough to earn him a place in the 2025–26 Serie A Team of the Year at the Gran Galà del Calcio.
Although his current Milan contract runs until next summer, when he will be approaching his 42nd birthday, Modrić insists he has not yet decided when he will finally hang up his boots.
Modrić Wants to Return to His “Home”
Speaking to Spanish newspaper MARCA, Modrić opened up about his plans for life after football and admitted that Madrid still feels like home.
The Croatian was asked whether he could eventually return to Real Madrid in a non-playing role. His answer was clear: it is something he would genuinely like to happen.
“I hope so. I’d like to,” Modrić said.
“Madrid is my home, and of course I’d like to return someday. But we’ll see how and in what role, if that happens.”
However, Modrić stressed that he would not want to return simply because of his legendary status at the club. If he comes back, he wants to have a meaningful purpose.
“I don’t want to come back just for the sake of coming back and being there for the sake of being there,” he explained. “I want to be useful, I want to help Real Madrid.”
That attitude perhaps sums up Modrić’s character. Despite everything he achieved at the Bernabéu, he does not appear interested in simply enjoying a ceremonial role. He wants to contribute, work and give something back to the club that helped define his career.
“Real Madrid has given me everything, it has given me so much, and I believe I would only return to do something useful, to do things well and to work not just at Real Madrid, but for Real Madrid,” he added.
For Modrić, the emotional connection is obvious. Madrid is not simply the city where he spent the prime of his career. It has become home.
“My intention is to return to Madrid and live there,” he said. “You can never say anything for sure. But I hope, I really hope it happens.”
Mourinho Played a Major Role in Bringing Modrić to Madrid
Modrić’s journey at Real Madrid almost never happened.
The midfielder joined the Spanish giants from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2012 for around $40 million, arriving during José Mourinho’s first spell in charge.
His first season was far from straightforward. Modrić struggled to adapt to Spanish football and was even voted MARCA‘s worst signing of the season.
Mourinho departed the following summer, but Modrić’s story at Madrid was only beginning.
Under Carlo Ancelotti and later Zinedine Zidane, the Croatian developed into one of the finest midfielders of his generation, eventually becoming a central figure in one of the most successful periods in Real Madrid’s history.
Despite spending only one season working together, Modrić believes Mourinho was instrumental in making his move to Madrid possible.
“I think Mourinho was the most important thing for my arrival, because he did everything, everything in his power to make me the signing of that summer,” Modrić revealed.
Negotiations between Real Madrid and Tottenham were difficult and dragged on for some time. According to Modrić, Mourinho’s determination helped keep the deal alive.
“Negotiations with Tottenham weren’t easy. They were tough and long,” he said.
“And if Mourinho hadn’t been so insistent, perhaps Real Madrid would have withdrawn from the negotiations. But he was persistent and he wanted me. That’s why I think he was the most important factor.”
Modrić admits he would have liked to spend more time working with the Portuguese manager, despite their short spell together.
“The only downside was that I didn’t train with him for more than a year,” he said. “That’s life. I learned a lot in that year with him, but I would have liked to train with him for longer.”
A Possible New Chapter at Real Madrid
Modrić’s playing career may eventually come to an end, but his comments suggest he already has an idea of where he would like the next chapter to take him.
After winning almost everything possible with Real Madrid and becoming one of the club’s greatest-ever midfielders, a return to the Bernabéu in a different capacity would be a fitting conclusion to his remarkable journey.
For now, however, Modrić’s focus remains on playing.
And if his performances in Italy are anything to go by, the Croatian legend still has plenty to offer on the pitch before he eventually returns to the city he continues to call home.
