Real Madrid Transfer News: Agent Talks Up Luka Modric Potential Juventus Move

Croatian football agent Marko Naletilic has suggested Juventus are the only Italian team who would have a chance of signing Luka Modric from Real Madrid and spoke positively of the Turin club as a possible destination. 

Naletilic spoke to Tuttosport (h/t Calciomercato.com) and said the right financial agreement could yet see Real's midfield talisman complete a move to Serie A:

"It will depend on the economic potential of Serie A clubs.

"I've known Modric for a long time: He grew up with Boban as an idol and as a kid he watched all the Italian league games. Its never say never in football.

"If after Real Madrid, Modric decided to close his career, but at the moment he cannot afford any club, maybe only Juventus. But certainly for the Bianconeri he would be the ideal man to strengthen the midfield."

Modric, 32, not long ago spoke about his future in Madrid and the prospects ahead of him, although joining another of Europe's top divisions would be a bigger move than he has hinted at, via ESPN FC:

Naletilic referred to Croatian football icon Zvonimir Boban, who starred for six years at Dinamo Zagreb before enjoying a 10-year stay at AC Milan, although it's Juve who are now the dominant force in Italy.

But with two years remaining on his Los Blancos contract, and with little reason to consider an exit unless one is forced on him, Modric doesn't appear likely to leave the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

Juventus would need to pay a transfer fee in order to recruit a 32-year-old into an already aging squad, with Blaise Matuidi, 31, Sami Khedira, 31, and Claudio Marchisio, 32, all already on the wrong side of 30.

Modric would make for a good replacement if one of those veterans were to leave first, and the Telegraph's JJ Bull mentioned him in the same breath as some of Europe's other elite playmakers:

It appears unlikely Modric will depart Madrid before he's told he's no longer wanted at the club, which seems far off considering he's enjoyed another fine season and made it to a fourth UEFA Champions League final in five years.

Spanish football writer Simon Harrison praised Modric for his performance against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg despite him playing effectively as a right-back for that outing:

It's that kind of composure that makes him such a force to be reckoned with, and it tends to be the case that clever thinkers such as Modric can last deeper into their 30s.

Serie A is no stranger to accommodating older stars, and Juve would welcome the player if he became available.