Why it hasn’t worked for Modric in Madrid
When are players going to learn that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side? Too many times, footballers have left their current club on the premise that life will improve at their new team. For Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric, his move to Real Madrid hasn’t worked out the way he’d initially hoped.
The Croatian was voted the worst signing of 2012 by Marca readers last month after failing to replicate his Spurs performances for Los Blancos. It’s a major dent to the club’s ambitions that their star summer signing is failing to light up the Bernabeu after such a long winded transfer process.
But why hasn’t it worked out for Modric? Why hasn’t the diminutive schemer been able to showcase his capabilities to the Madrid faithful? It’s fair to say, the club have been going through a somewhat tumultuous period as of late, what with speculation rife that the La Liga giants are prepared to give head coach Jose Mourinho the boot sooner rather than later.
His well documented fallings out with the playing staff, Cristiano Ronaldo aside, has aided his cause, while his seemingly personal vendetta against ‘San’ Iker Casillas is unlikely to have gone down well with the fans, not the Spanish contingent within the club.
Coming into such an environment is unlikely going to help a player settle into his new surroundings, something Modric has admitted. Furthermore, Mourinho has looked to utilise the former Spurs ace higher up the pitch in a position that he isn’t familiar with.
During his stint at White Hart Lane, the 27-year-old played the role of deep laying playmaker, often making the assist that leads to the the assist that leads to the goal. Playing in the number 10 position behind the front-man isn’t what Modric is accustomed to and it’s no shock to have seen his impact hindered as a result.
While it can be considered harsh to have been voted the worst signing of 2012 in La Liga, what with Alex Song hardly impressing for Barcelona, it’s fair to say that the midfielder isn’t necessarily impressing for Madrid following his big money move over the summer.
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