Luka Modric to Stay with Real Madrid for Another Season in the Spanish League

Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric attends a training session at the Real Madrid City training complex in Valdebebas, outskirts of Madrid on June 3, 2023. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric attends a training session at the Real Madrid City training complex in Valdebebas, outskirts of Madrid on June 3, 2023. (AFP)
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Luka Modric to Stay with Real Madrid for Another Season in the Spanish League

Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric attends a training session at the Real Madrid City training complex in Valdebebas, outskirts of Madrid on June 3, 2023. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric attends a training session at the Real Madrid City training complex in Valdebebas, outskirts of Madrid on June 3, 2023. (AFP)

Real Madrid extended Luka Modric's contract on Monday, keeping the veteran midfielder for another season.

Madrid agreed to extend the contract of the 37-year-old Croatian until the end of the 2023-24 campaign, just like it did with Toni Kroos last week.

The moves allow Madrid to keep two of its most experienced players in a midfield that will be refreshed by the recent signing of 19-year-old Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.

The Spanish club also has Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Dani Ceballos in the midfield. Ceballos also had his contract extended recently.

Modric will be playing his 12th season with Madrid. He has made 488 appearances with the club and won 23 titles, including five Champions Leagues and three Spanish leagues. He won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA's The Best awards for player of the year in 2018.

“Home Sweet Home,” Modric wrote on Twitter.

The 33-year-old Kroos will begin his 10th season with Madrid.

The club also recently extended the contract of defender Nacho Fernández, and boosted its attack with the loan of Spain striker Joselu from Espanyol. Not returning next season are forwards Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard and Mariano Díaz.



Al-Ahli to Face Al-Rayyan in the AFC Champions League Elite

Al-Ahli to Face Al-Rayyan in the AFC Champions League Elite
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Al-Ahli to Face Al-Rayyan in the AFC Champions League Elite

Al-Ahli to Face Al-Rayyan in the AFC Champions League Elite

Al-Ahli Saudi Club aims for its third consecutive victory when it faces Al-Rayyan of Qatar on Monday at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan in the third round of the group stage (West region) of the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite.
Al-Ahli enters the match with 6 points from two wins, placing the club second on goal difference just behind Al-Hilal.

They are looking for a win and a clean sheet, as they are the only team yet to concede a goal in the competition, according to SPA.

Al-Ahli strives for a perfect record after defeating Persepolis of Iran 1-0 in Jeddah and Al-Wasl of the UAE 2-0 away.
However, Al-Ahli will play without their Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy due to a recent injury. Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, 23 years old, will step in as his replacement, having played in the last four matches.