Messi 'interested' in Real Madrid star joining him at Inter Miami
Cameron Smith
- 1 Oct 2023 19:03 BST
- 3 min read
Lionel Messi wants Inter Miami to sign Real Madrid star Luka Modric as the Croatian begins to receive transfer interest.
The 38-year-old has been replaced in the starting XI at the Santiago Bernabeu this season thanks to the summer arrival of Jude Belingham and has not featured in Los Blancos’ past two games.
It’s the first time in his Real Madrid career that Modric has not featured for two consecutive games when not injured or suspended, as per AS.
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The Croatia international has started just two league games so far this campaign, although he did play 81 minutes in Real’s 1-0 win over Union Berlin in the Champions League.
Carlo Ancelotti has altered his system following the departure of Karim Benzema and the acquisition of Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.
The England international has been deployed at the tip of a midfield diamond, with Aurelien Tchouameni sitting deepest and Toni Kroos, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and Modric competing for the final two midfield spots.
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Lionel Messi wants Modric
Predrag “Pedja” Mijatovic has told La Ser (via Mundo Deportivo) that Inter Miami want to sign Modric, whose Real Madrid contract expires at the end of the 2023-24 season.
“He has received offers from the MLS, from many teams and from Inter Miami in particular,” Mijatovic said. “Lionel Messi himself has personally been interested in the possibility [of Modric joining].”
Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba joined Messi at Inter Miami during the summer and the 2022 World Cup winner is now eyeing up a potential move for another La Liga star.
Messi is currently sidelined through injury and has missed Inter Miami’s past three games. He has scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 12 appearances for the MLS side since joining from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in July.
