Luka Modrić was supposed to say goodbye.

At 39, his contract was winding down. He had lost his place in the starting XI. And Real Madrid, already managing a crowded midfield, appeared ready to move on. But just as the end neared, Xabi Alonso stepped in.

Alonso, expected to formally take charge in the coming weeks, made one of his first unofficial requests clear: he wants Modrić to stay. According to MARCA and Relevo, the incoming manager personally urged the club to offer the Croatian a one-year renewal. He sees Modrić’s leadership as indispensable during what is likely to be a volatile transition period.

This is not sentimentality. It’s a strategy.

The midfielder, already Real Madrid’s oldest-ever player and goalscorer, has shown no signs of quiet resignation. Instead, he has played more games this season (56) than in any other during his 13-year spell at the Bernabéu. His minutes may have dipped, but his influence has not. Four , nine assists, and the respect of an entire dressing room make him more than just a ceremonial figure. He is a stabilizer.

For Alonso, this reunion is personal. The two shared Madrid’s midfield between 2012 and 2014, culminating in a Champions League title in Lisbon. Alonso understands what Modrić brings because he once depended on it himself—clarity in chaos, rhythm in transition, and above all, dignity. As a player, Modrić rarely spoke loudly. He simply led.

That kind of leadership matters more now than ever. Madrid’s midfield is teeming with talent—Valverde, Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Bellingham, Güler—but few have lived through the cycles Modrić has. His willingness to accept a reduced role and take a pay cut only strengthens the case. Relevo noted that he is determined to retire at the club that defined him and lead Croatia into one final World Cup.

Even , now preparing his own farewell, echoed the sentiment. “Everyone knows how much Real Madrid fans love him,” he said after the club’s win over Sevilla. “They’ll have time to make the best decision for him, the club, and the future.”

That time has come. For Alonso, keeping Modrić is not about sentiment. It is about stability, continuity, and legacy.

And the belief that before Modrić exits, he still has one more act to deliver.