Rakitic tears into Real Madrid for letting Modric join Milan: "It was a serious mistake"

"It was a serious mistake, not only on the part of Real Madrid, but also for Spanish football, because I think we should have pushed much harder to keep him. Given how things are going at Real Madrid, I think the coach would be delighted to have him. It saddens me because we don't consider age when a player is too young, but Luka is proving that football has no age limits."

"It's no coincidence, because he takes care of himself and prepares well, and in the end, those who work hard deserve it. He's happy, satisfied, having a lot of fun, and that's what matters, that we enjoy his presence on the pitch as much as possible."

"Real Madrid's management prioritised a sort of changing of the guard last summer, choosing to build the future around younger talents like Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde. While Modric remains a top-class player, his role had increasingly become that of a mere reserve."

Luka Modric joined AC Milan on a free transfer during the summer and has delivered impressive performances despite his age, with speculation he may extend for another season to help Milan reach the Champions League. Rakitic expressed strong disapproval of Real Madrid's decision to release Modric, calling it a serious mistake for both the club and Spanish football. Real Madrid prioritized youth development by building around younger players like Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Federico Valverde, relegating Modric to a reserve role. Modric's departure demonstrates that professional dedication and self-care enable players to transcend age limitations. Real Madrid has experienced inconsistency this season under new management, situations where Modric's experience could have proven invaluable.

Read at SempreMilan