Luka Modric has reportedly turned down the opportunity to join his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo joined the Saudi Arabian outfit last week, signing the most expensive contract in football history.
He will reportedly earn around £200million per year after leaving Manchester United to become a free agent before the World Cup.
The 37-year-old’s exit was acrimonious at best after he gave the club little choice but to release him following his controversial interview with Piers Morgan.
Ronaldo said in the interview for TalkTV that he still believes he can play at the top level, hinting that a move to the middle east was not high on his list of priorities.
Following the confirmation of his move to Al-Nassr, a clip went viral of the striker saying on The Jonathan Ross Show that he did not want to retire in a country like Qatar or Saudi Arabia.
That has evidently not gone to plan, though football in the middle east is on a high at the moment following this winter’s terrific World Cup tournament in Qatar.
Al-Nassr are hoping to bring in some more big names following the arrival of one of the greatest players of all time.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, ‘Al-Nassr, wants to elevate Saudi to the elite of the world’s most followed sport universe.’
In their attempt to do so, they have contacted Modric and another Real Madrid legend, Sergio Ramos.
Modric proved at the World Cup that he is still a world-class footballer, even at the age of 37.
And he wants to remain at the top, and unlike Ronaldo, he is still wanted by a top club.
The Croatian legend is loyal to Madrid and has rejected ‘million-dollar proposals from Saudi Arabia and the United States’ to continue his wonderful Los Blancos career.
A contract renewal is ‘beyond doubt’, although there is no offer on the table as things stand, but an ‘agreement will be no problem’.
Modric has told interested parties to come back in 2024, making it clear that he wants to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu for another season.
Ronaldo is hoping to be joined by Ramos this year and then Modric next year as Al-Nassr try to become ‘the Real Madrid of the Arab world’.
MLS made an approach to sign the 37-year-old and there is an eagerness to get some big names over to the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Inter Miami are reportedly interested and have also been linked with Lionel Messi, although a Paris Saint-Germain contract extension looks more likely than a move to south beach.
