Luka Modric: “I miss hanging out with Sergio Ramos”

On Mbappé’s decision

“Mbappé made a decision and now he lives with it. We all thought he would join us, it didn’t happen… and now what? Well, we’re not going to crucify him. Mbappé is a great player, but as I always repeat, in any context, no footballer is more important than the club. Real Madrid is the greatest, above all the players and it will always be that way.”

“It is possible that in a few years Mbappé will come. According to football logic, which was valid until the pressure of the socio-political and interest environments in Paris, Mbappé would probably follow his old desire to play for Real Madrid. As much as it seems now, especially to disillusioned fans, that ties have been severed, things can happen again.”

On Real Madrid’s match against PSG in Paris

“It was purely spontaneous. It was a key match even if each meeting is important until the final victory. Before the match against PSG, there were a lot of skepticism around us, that we are not able to eliminate the so-called “mega team”, built especially for the Champions League.”

“They completely dominated us at the Parc des Princes where we were really bad, So much so that some said we were dead. People were already starting to say that we had to change players, replace the old ones to regain speed, go on a new project, things like that…”

“When Carvajal and I were replaced at the Parc, I said to him on the bench: “’Carva’, you’ll see, we’re going to crush them at the Bernabéu!. There was a lot of talk about this second leg in the locker room. Hope grew day by day that it could be done. The day of the match, I saw in the eyes of my teammates this rage that you only see on big nights for Real Madrid. When we are excited, focused, full of energy and united, no team can beat us.”

On Real Madrid’s comeback vs PSG

“It was rare to see Messi, after so many Clásicos, in another shirt. With Neymar and Mbappé they are a collection of talent. But we are Real Madrid and when we find our rhythm, with the fantastic support of the fans, we simply crushed them. It was a spectacular night, one of the most impressive for me, and I have experienced many at Real Madrid. Since that victory, the public’s and the environment’s perception of our potential in the Champions League changed completely. The skepticism disappeared. Objectively speaking, the way we reacted against PSG showed everyone, especially us, that we had a say in the competition.”

Do you regret swapping shirts with Mbappé?

“Come on, please, what do I regret? Actually, those media stories seemed funny to me. I understand the media, who do something special in everything they can, but here it was just a request for a child and the fulfillment of his wish. Domagoj Vida’s young son loves Mbappé, he asked me to ask him about the shirt because he hoped he would give it to me . Of course I did it for Vida’s son as I would for any child if I could With Kylian , for my collection, I have already exchanged jerseys in previous matches… ”

On Sergio Ramos’s departure

“All the departures of players with whom you share years in very successful times are painful. For everyone. After nine years Sergi is gone. From the first day he was close to me, he helped me adapt to Real Madrid, he encouraged me. He believed in my potential… We became great friends, our families got together, we spent the summers together. We still talk to each other every day, at least through messages. I miss hanging out with him, but that’s the way things are in football.”

Benzema deserves the Ballon d’Or

“Benzema is Benzema! He is a nine and a ten at the same time, a mixture of talent and power. He is one of the greatest with who I played. Of course he deserves the Golden Ball because this has been a great season for him. But it has been the case for a long time, Karim is a Golden Ball for me. From the first training sessions at Valdebebas , I felt he was the ‘top player’ I liked to play with. When I got to know him better, he became even more dear to me.”