Luka Modric won the Ballon d'Or in 2018
Luka Modric will leave Real Madrid when his contract expires after the 2025 Club World Cup.
The club announced the player’s exit in a statement on Thursday.
The 2025 Club World Cup will be held from June 13 to July 13 in the US.
In a statement on Instagram, Modric said “playing for Real Madrid changed my life as a football player and as a person”.
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The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner added that he would be “proud to have been part of one of the most successful eras of the best club in history”.
“The 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 Bernabéu,” the Croatian midfielder said.
“I arrived in 2012 with the desire to wear the shirt of the best team in the world and the ambition to do big things, but I couldn’t imagine what came next.
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“I want to thank the club from the bottom of my heart, especially the president Florentino Perez, my teammates, coaches and all the people who have helped me during all this time.
“But beyond the titles and victories, I carry in my heart the affection of all Madrid fans. I really don’t know how to explain the special connection I have with you and how supported, respected, and loved I have felt. I will never forget each ovation and all the gestures of affection you have shown me.
“Leaving with a full heart. Filled with pride, gratitude and unforgettable memories. And even though, after the Club World Cup, I’m no longer going to wear this shirt on the field, I’ll always be a Madrid fan.”
Modric joined Real Madrid in 2012 and has won 28 titles: six UEFA Champions League trophies, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four LaLiga titles, two Copas del Rey, and five Spanish Super Cups.
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Modric won the Ballon d’Or and was named FIFA’s Best Men’s Player and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in 2018.
