Modric didn’t believe Zidane, Ronaldo would leave Real

Croatian playmaker names Boban as his hero in Croatian team

Real Madrid’s Croatian international midfielder Luka Modric admits that neither he nor his teammates expected both Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo to leave the club last summer.

Zidane stepped down as coach after leading the club to three consecutive Champions League titles, while Ronaldo ended his nine-year association with Madrid when he joined Juventus in July, according to media reports.

“I wasn’t expecting either of the two to go; I didn’t think Zidane would leave and the same with Ronaldo,” said Modric in the latest edition of France Football. “In fact when the rumours about Cristiano appeared, we [Real Madrid players] had bets among ourselves and we were certain he would stay, but everyone makes their own decisions.”

The 33-year-old, who is the favourite to win the prestigious ‘Balon d’Or’ award for this season, was asked which former players he would most likely to have lined up alongside. He said his first choice was former Croatian international Zvonimir Boban.