After 488 appearances, 3 Spanish La Liga titles, and five UEFA Champions League trophies, 37-year-old Luka Modric has signed a contract extension with Real Madrid till 2024.

The Croatian is out of contract, but despite a wave of moves to the Saudi Pro League, he has decided to stick with the Capital club in Spain for one more year. Modric’s renewal is coming after Toni Kross also signed an extension at the weekend.

The Croatian midfielder, who recently helped his country to the UEFA Nations League Final loss against Spain, joined the Los Blancos in 2012 and has now spent the last eleven seasons at Santiago Bernabeu.

Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos, and Nacho Fernandez are the other players who extend their contracts with the club this summer. The 2008 Balon D’or winner is still regarded as a key player for the 14-time European champions.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team have also completed the signing of England international Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund this summer. However, Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, and Mariano Diaz have all been released.

Real Madrid finished second on the La Liga table behind eventual champions Barcelona, who snatched the title with four games left. The Los Blancos settled for the Copa Del Rey after also dropping out of the UEFA Champions League semi-final to Manchester City.

The Englishmen recently saw Ilkay Gundogan move to Barcelona on a free transfer; the German international signed a three-year deal with the Blaugrana instead of an extension at the Etihad Stadium.

Xavi’s team will still look to sign more recruitment after the exit of Sergio Busquets, who joined Lionel Messi at MLS Club Inter Miami. He ended his long-term relationship with the Catalonians that stretched back to 2005 when he joined Barcelona’s B team.

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona will start the new league season away from home against Athletic Club and Getafe.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu