Emilio Butragueno Says Luka Modric Wants to Stay at Real Madrid
Real Madrid directorย Emilio Butragueno has said Luka Modric is set to remain with the club after recent speculation about a move to Inter Milan.
Speaking toย Movistar + (h/tย Marca), the former Los Blancos playing legend was clear the midfielder will stay in Spain.
"There is no issue withย Modric," said Butragueno. "He's delighted to continue with us."
Per Marca, Inter have shown significant interest in the player after he helped Croatia reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup final in Russia.
Modricย failed to make the starting XI as Real lost 4-2 toย Atleticoย Madrid in theย UEFAย Super Cup final in Estonia on Wednesday.
However, he remains a central part of new managerย Julenย Lopetegui's squad, as Real get used to life after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo toย Juventus.
Modric's agent,ย Markoย Naletilic, recently said he believed the 32-year-old would find his way toย Serieย A.
According toย Tuttosportย (h/t MailOnline'sย Joe Strange), the Croatian representativeย said:
"The fact Inter Milan tried to sign him andย Modricย took it into consideration shows the influence Cristiano Ronaldo is already having on Italian football.ย For whatever reason,ย Modricย wants to be a star inย Serieย A with Inter. Let's see. I believe that sooner or laterย Lukaย will play in Italy.ย Like a lot of Croatians his age, he grew up watching Italian football."
The Italian transfer window is set to close on Friday, andย Butragueno's comments will ease fears surroundingย Modric's immediate future.
Bleacher Report's Dean Jones said recent events might have affectedย Modric's chances of a starting berth in the Super Cup:
Modricย proved in Russia he is still one of the best operators in central midfield, and his diversity allows him to be deployed as a No. 10 if needed.
Lopeteguiย will take time to find what is his best starting XI in the weeks ahead, but it's vitalย Modricย is retained for the next 12 months.
Inter are likely to continueย chasing until the final moments of the summer transfer window, but Real's reluctance to lose one of their best midfieldersย should scupper any deal, especially afterย Butragueno's latest comments.
