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While everyone applauded Toni Kroos, who looked excitedly up into the Santiago Bernabeu stands while holding his children’s hands on the day of his farewell, few seemed to notice the rest of his Real Madrid team, who were applauding a few metres behind him.
Some of them, such as Nacho, Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez or Joselu, could also have been playing their last game at Madrid’s home stadium because their respective contracts are coming to an end this summer. And yet, they didn’t get any kind of tribute. Why?
‘We are waiting for the decision they want to take,” said head coach Carlo Ancelotti after the goalless draw with Real Betis. “There is one game left, Saturday’s game (the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund), and everything will become clear.”
The Betis fixture was the last of La Liga 2023-24 for Madrid, who had nothing at stake because they had secured the title four matches in advance, but beyond the main event with Kroos, who retires from all football after representing Germany at the European Championship this summer, Saturday afternoon at the Bernabeu provided several signals about what might happen with those players whose situations have changed in recent weeks.
According to different sources involved, who spoke anonymously to protect their positions like others in this piece, the club going so far in the Champions League has delayed new-contract talks.
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The only one who had already known for months that he was not going to continue at the Bernabeu was goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is on a season’s loan from Chelsea, and he will now try to find another destination for himself in the summer.
After entering the action against Betis in the 63rd minute as a substitute for Thibaut Courtois, the Basque received the affection of Madrid fans and said goodbye discreetly, without an announcement over the loudspeaker, but appeared visibly moved later as he exited the stadium hand-in-hand with his wife.
Nacho, who left the Bernabeu with three of his children and his wife, did not have a farewell, despite being captain. Contrary to what might have been expected a month ago, when he privately confirmed his decision to move on, Nacho played on Saturday without giving any sign that he is actually off after over two decades at the club.
What’s more, he acted like a master of ceremonies, leading Jessica, Kroos’ wife, by the hand to the centre of the pitch.
“Nacho, capitan!”, the supporters shouted to him as he started the game, in preparation for the Champions League final in London, which he is also expected to start. However, with doubts over his future, the other chant that has been repeated this season — “Nacho, stay!” — was not heard.
This time, simply, Nacho thanked supporters in the stands by applauding them when he was withdrawn for Eder Militao after 64 minutes, without a hug or a special caress from Ancelotti.
Nacho leaves the pitch against Real Betis (Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
According to club sources, the 34-year-old defender’s departure from the club he joined at age 11 no longer seems so clear. “Everything is very unpredictable,” says a source from the coaching staff, who does not rule out a renewal. “Last week, we were all thinking that Toni would stay and then, suddenly, he didn’t.”
For their part, Nacho’s camp categorically deny any renewal agreement at the moment and, for the last few days, have limited themselves to talking about next weekend’s final at Wembley being the only objective in the captain’s head.
Last season, in a similar situation, the fact that Nacho delayed his decision to leave the club brought him closer to staying for 2023-24. It remains to be seen if he repeats the same process and puts aside other options, such as joining a team in MLS or the Saudi Pro League.
As The Athletic has already reported, the future is clearer for Modric, who has been in talks to renew his contract for another year and who was the most applauded player when he entered the pitch against Betis in the 74th minute. His case has been a special one because, until recently, it seemed that the 38-year-old was the one who was going to leave the Madrid midfield this summer, not Kroos.
“With Luka, it has been the opposite. If he stays, it’s because he wants to and thanks to Florentino (Perez, the club president),” says a source in Modric’s camp, who, until weeks ago did not think Madrid would offer him a deal for one more year.
The situation is not only due to the good performance of the Croatia international despite his secondary role these days (he is the 13th player in the squad by minutes played this season in all competitions, with 2,238) but also because of his willingness to re-sign, even if his salary is reduced.
That’s why, in what was the last La Liga game of the season, the Bernabeu crowd no longer chanted, “Modric, stay!”. Ancelotti didn’t start him either, which would have been logical if it was his farewell appearance.
However, Modric was given time to play a few minutes again with Kroos, to say goodbye to his team-mate of the last 10 years. “Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole!”, the crowd chanted with every Modric cutback, with the veteran appearing concentrated on his play, hardly letting any emotion escape.
More moved by the tribute to Kroos was Vazquez, who kissed his German team-mate and played the last minutes of the season at the Bernabeu after coming on at the same time as Modric. That said, his appearance didn’t look like an ending, either.
According to his camp, Vazquez has already received a renewal offer and Madrid believe the 32-year-old has more than earned it (he has contributed with three goals and eight assists in just 1,780 minutes, mostly as a right-back, this season). Both parties agree there is “very good harmony” and all the indications are that Vazques will continue for another year, although there is still no definite date to make that official.
Vazquez has been a key substitute for Dani Carvajal this season and has overcome the ankle problems that overshadowed his role in the previous one. He is also one of the most loved players in the dressing room because he is close to everyone, both young and old, and serves as a link.
In the same vein is Joselu, for whom Madrid will have to meet the €1.5million (£1.3m; $1.6m) purchase option imposed on them by his parent club Espanyol if they want to keep the on-loan Spain international striker. But after 17 goals, three assists and a legendary performance in last month’s Champions League semi-final comeback win against Bayern Munich, the club know the 34-year-old former Madrid youngster has earned it.
Madrid have a €1.5m purchase option to sign Joselu, right, from Espanyol (Jose Jordan/AFP via Getty Images)
In the dressing room, they stress that Joselu has also been instrumental in creating a good atmosphere and he was seen to be quite relaxed on the bench during the Betis game.
For Joselu, staying with Madrid was always a priority and although he knew he could have options in the Saudi Arabian market, he has paid no attention to them. The latest rumours of a move to Al-Ittihad have been strongly denied by senior sources from last season’s Saudi champions to The Athletic.
Moreover, Ancelotti didn’t let him play a single minute on Saturday, which would have been logical if he needed to say goodbye to the Madrid fans, who have shown him so much affection this season.
So, pending the finalisation of the various deals, what could be seen in their 2023-24 La Liga finale is that Madrid will not experience a similar cascade of departures to last season. That was a scenario which did not please the club and it seems likely that it will not be repeated one year on.
(Top photo: Modric embraces Kroos during the draw with Betis; Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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Courtesy : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5520058/2024/05/27/real-madrid-modric-nacho-vazquez-joselu-future/