This season is proving to be a turning point for two Real Madrid greats. Luka Modric and Toni Kroos have both lost their status as guaranteed first-team starters — and it has understandably left them unhappy.
The new reality for two of Madrid’s most decorated players came into focus again this week, following Sunday’s 3-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid in the derby at the Metropolitano Stadium.
To the general surprise and dissatisfaction of the club’s board, head coach Carlo Ancelotti opted to start the pair for that match. It was the first time he had done so this season, and things did not go well. The performance and result were disappointing, despite Kroos’ superb goal.
It was Real Madrid’s first defeat of the campaign, following six consecutive wins in all competitions since the start of the 2023-24 season.
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The result generated a great deal of criticism and led to a period of internal reflection; something that happened when Ancelotti’s side were outclassed by Manchester City in last season’s Champions League semi-finals.
After the second leg of that tie — which Real Madrid lost 4-0 — in face-to-face meetings, senior club figures reinforced to Ancelotti their idea that the team should place more emphasis on its younger players, such as Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. Modric is 38, Kroos is 33.
In May, Ancelotti was asked at a press conference whether there would be a change of cycle in midfield. His lengthy response was instructive.
“I think this transition has already started, not that it will start next season,” he said.
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“It started before I arrived. This squad, which has done extraordinary things, started to lose pieces when Cristiano Ronaldo left (for Juventus) in 2018. From there, little by little, very good young players of great quality started to arrive.
“That transition has continued since I came back: losing Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Gareth Bale, Isco… players who have gradually been replaced with young players with extraordinary quality.
“The transition has begun and will continue next season. Obviously, the youngsters will have even more prominence and the veterans a little less. When will it stop? The day Modric, Kroos, Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal, Nacho stop playing for this team.”
Modric (left) was substituted at half time in the derby loss (David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Things have played out as the Italian suggested they would — except in the derby.
According to FBref.com, Modric finished last season as the 11th most-used player in the squad, having featured for 2,990 minutes. Kroos was seventh, with 3,644. This term, Modric is the 13th most-used player (288 minutes) and Kroos the 12th (364).
The first warning for the pair came in the pre-season Clasico against Barcelona in Dallas, Texas. Modric and Kroos were substitutes, and Real Madrid lost 3-0.
But Ancelotti came away from that game with a positive feeling about his side’s performance, as did the board.
“It was a good game — well played with and without the ball. We pressed well, we had opportunities, a lot of mobility,” he said.
“For an hour, the team has played very well. It’s quite rare, with a lot of chances, hitting the post five times in a game, which has never happened to me before.”
That “for an hour“ line is worth a little extra scrutiny, seeing as Modric and Kroos replaced Federico Valverde and Camavinga in the 57th minute.
Ancelotti also said that night that he wanted to see the youngsters because ”what Modric and Kroos can contribute, I already know“. And he reiterated the idea formulated a few months earlier when adding: ”It’s not like the transition has started now.“
In recent weeks, even before the Atletico defeat, the issue of Kroos and Modric’s new status has been heating up.
During the international break in September, Modric gave an interview in Croatia in which he made reference to the contract extension he agreed to at the end of last season until 2024.
“It’s strange for me not to play,” he said. “As soon as I was told that nothing would change in my status, I signed (the extension).”
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Before Madrid’s following match, against Real Sociedad, The Athletic asked Ancelotti about Modric’s words.
“When he renewed, we all agreed and we were all delighted; Luka too,” the 64-year-old said.
“Afterwards, it’s true that his role has changed if we look at the first matches, but now when he comes back, he will have more of a role and will continue to be important.
“Obviously, I discussed it with him at the beginning of the season and I’m still discussing it with him.”
Kroos and Modric are two of Madrid’s most decorated players (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images).
Then, in the build-up to the Madrid derby, Ancelotti admitted it was difficult to leave Modric and Kroos on the bench.
“It’s hard to leave not only Kroos and Modric on the bench but also Valverde, Tchouameni or Camavinga,” he said.
“When a player leaves (the starting XI), he is very sad and the one who comes in is very happy. I have been a player myself and I understand that. I’ve told them not to be sad if I change them, especially when a player comes in who has a very high quality.”
Kroos and Modric started that game, but the latter was taken off at half-time. Ancelotti, however, said he did not intend to single him out with that decision.
Before Madrid hosted Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, Ancelotti was asked about one of the criticisms that had been levelled at him after the derby. He replied emphatically: “It’s not true that I don’t dare bench Modric and Kroos.”
Just over 24 hours later, he lived up to those words. Modric was benched for the entire match and Kroos came on in the second half, as Madrid won 2-0.
Kroos faces a fight for a starting place at Madrid (Photo by Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images).
As expected, Kroos and Modric are not happy with their new roles.
Everyone who knows the Croatian and interacts with him day-to-day at Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground describes him as ultra-competitive — something that’s been key to his long-term success. He is convinced that he is still good enough to be a starter for his club.
Kroos, who took the decision to retire from international duty in 2021 to extend his club career among other reasons, feels the same.
Both are annoyed by the continued comments about their age. Modric has made this point several times in public and Kroos finds it strange that they should both be lumped together in any joint criticism when, despite so much success together and their great relationship, they are two different players of different ages.
Madrid were keen to renew their contracts earlier this year and both signed deals that run until June 2024. In the case of Kroos, Madrid were open to him extending for an extra year.
Both remain convinced they are still fit to be starters — so we should expect further flashpoints along the way.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
