Modric resists Saudi Arabian offer and will stay at Real Madrid

Luka Modric is currently taking a break from all things Real Madrid at Croatia's training camp ahead of the Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands

His idea is still to continue playing for Real Madrid in 2023/24, the club where he always dreamed of retiring. This is in spite of the fact that Saudi Arabia are continuing to try and sign him.

The offer is huge. There is talk in the Arab country of around 80 million euros from Al-Ahly Jeddah, one of the most traditional clubs in the Saudi Pro League. This amount is seven times more than the salary he receives at Madrid, where he is one of the highest paid players.

At the age of 37, Modric has a clear idea of staying one more year in Madrid, to fulfil a long-standing desire. He wants to leave elite football at the club where he has won five Champions League titles, and enjoy the remodeled Estadio Santiago Bernabeu first-hand.

However, the offer from Arabia is one that would make anyone hesitate.

In any case, Modric is currently resisting the 'pressure' of Arab football, fueled by a seemingly endless injection of funds from the country's government, which is desperate to boost its national league and host the 2030 World Cup, following in the footsteps of Qatar, one of its main regional rivals.

Messi's rejection

The Saudi Arabian authorities have not quite digested Leo Messi's 'no' amidst his decision to sign for Inter Miami instead, and are therefore pulling out all the stops to attract the best players in Europe.

This is a path that was opened with Cristiano Ronaldo, then followed by Karim Benzema and the Saudi leaders are showing no signs of abandoning the policy, even with Messi.

Modric intends to make the most of his time with the Croatian national team, whom he hopes to lead to their first-ever title in the Nations League.

After that he will return to Madrid on June 20 to complete the formalities for what should be his twelfth season with Los Blancos.