Real Madrid want AC Milan star as Modric heir

Croatian legend Luka Modric will close his career at the end of the season and Real Madrid are looking at AC Milan for his successor. 

Real Madrid had to bid farewell to Toni Kroos during the summer. The German legend decided to call it quits and retire as one of the most decorated players in Los Blancos history including five Champions League titles during his spell in Spain and one while at Bayern Munich. Luka Modric, another Real Madrid legend, is set to follow in the same footsteps at the end of the season. The Croatian maestro will be 40-years-old during next summer and will close his career as the biggest winner in Madrid history.

The Spanish giants are already exploring the market for his replacement and their projectors have landed on a rising AC Milan star. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Real Madrid are closely monitoring the performances and progress of Tijjani Reijnders this season. The 26-year-old Dutch midfielder was one of the best club signings in 2023 but he has taken his game to another level this year cementing his status as one of the most important players in the squad.

Despite being a midfielder, Reijnders has transformed into one of the best goal scores in the team this season finding the back of the net on 9 occasions an providing 3 assists 26 appearances so far. Reijnders always had a penchant for going forward into the final third but he has recently become a much more concrete player in front of the goal as demonstrated by his fantastic appearance in the 1-3 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Although AC Milan consider Tijjani Reijnders as the only untouchable player in midfield, besides Youssouf Fofana, the opportunity of a move to Real Madrid could be too tempting. Regardless, AC Milan are offering a new contract to the elegant Netherlands international whose current contract expires in 2028. Talks have progressed quite well and Reijnders is expected to pen a new contract with an improved salary of around €3.5 million per year plus bonuses.

Obviously please by the interest of Real Madrid, Tijjani Reijnders is not planning to leave the Rossoneri. This will not be the first time the Dutch central midfielder rejects a Spanish giant in favor of AC Milan. In fact, Reijnders had the chance to join Barcelona in 2023 but he favored a move to AC Milan instead because the Rossoneri’s playing style was more suitable to his movements.


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