Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric opens the door to Lionel Messi link-up at Inter Miami

Over the last few weeks, one player who has been heavily linked with a move to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, who has slipped down the pecking order somewhat at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Following the arrival of Jude Bellingham, the 38-year-old has started only four of 11 games in all competitions this season. On Wednesday, he spoke to the media before Croatia’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Turkey and addressed his new reduced role with Los Blancos.

Modric: “I don’t want breaks, I just want to play”

“Well, it’s certainly a new situation for me not to play as much as before and as much as I’d like. You know I always want to play, I don’t want to have breaks, I don’t want to have vacations, I just want to play. I love it”.

Modric went on to further emphasise his desire to play as much as possible, despite his advancing years: “I don’t want to be left out. I just want to play, every 3 days if need be, because I feel good physically […] Everything that happens around me is part of a normal process, so I just accept it. I have to mentally prepare myself for this situation. Accept it and move on”.

Inter Miami owner Beckham on vacation with Modric

The 2018 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner’s words could give Inter Miami hope of adding some extra stardust to their roster, which already contains former Barcelona duo Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, as well as Messi. As the weeks and months have passed, Aurélien Tchouamnéni, Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Bellingham have all moved ahead of Modric in the queue for a starting berth in midfield, while Toni Kroos, four-and-a-half years his junior, has also had considerably more game time.

Could we see Modric lining up alongside Busquets in the Miami midfield before too long? As has already been reported, Herons owner David Beckham has his sights set on taking the former Tottenham Hotspur schemer to MLS, with the pair spotted together in Croatia over the summer. As was inevitable, several Saudi Pro League clubs are also interested.