Luka Modric refuses to rule out January departure from Real Madrid
- Modric has spoken openly about his frustration towards his new role
- 38-year-old has started just four games this season
- Carlo Ancelotti is not expecting a January exit
By Tom Gott
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has refused to rule out leaving the Santiago Bernabeu in January if he continues to struggle for minutes.
Modric, now 38, saw his role reduced last season as manager Carlo Ancelotti opted to keep him fresh for the team's biggest games, but the boss has started putting faith in the team's younger players this season and has left Modric on the sidelines.
The Croatia veteran has started just four games in all competitions this year and has spoken openly about his frustration towards his limited minutes.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti recently rebuffed suggestions Modric could leave in the winter transfer window, claiming: "I don't think Modric is considering leaving in January. He is still very important and we are happy with him."
Ancelotti's comments were put to Modric before Thursday's defeat to Turkey as he was asked whether the manager's claim was correct, but the 38-year-old refused to be drawn on the subject.
"I wouldn't want to get into that right now," he told Dnevnik. "There's still a long time to go until the winter and the end of the year, at my age it's hard to predict anything in the long term.
"We have to go from game to game and we'll see what the future will bring."
Modric's words may pique the interest of Dinamo Zagreb board president Vlatka Peras, who recently confessed she will reach out to the midfielder over a possible reunion in the January transfer window, admitting Dinamo will do "everything they can" to get a deal done.
On his current situation in Madrid, Modric added: "I feel good, the situation is a little different than before, actually since I've been in Real, but it's a normal process.
"I'm eager to play, I played the last game in Real, I'm healthy, the desire is there and I'm looking forward to playing for the national team."
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