Suker tipped a Real Madrid return for Modric

Regarding his compatriot’s future, Suker said: “Now they asked me where he’s going to stay, either in Milan or in Madrid... I think something is going to happen with Real Madrid.”

“He’ll definitely come back, but I don’t know how... Let’s wait until after the World Cup and see what happens,” Suker then added.

On Wednesday, Modric will once more lead his country against England, in a Group L match played in Arlington, Texas.

Given Modric turns 41 on September 9th, Suker was probed on whether his return to the Bernabeu would come as a player or in some sort of backroom or coaching role.

“I can’t say any more, I can’t say any more, my friend. Give me some space, you can’t say everything,” Suker protested.

Suker was once more affirmative, however, stating: “I’m sure he's going to do something with Real Madrid, I can assure you of that.”

“He’s one of the best in the world and, of course, the best in Croatia,” concluded Suker, who himself had his own stint in the Spanish capital during the 1990s.

As for Modric, it’s possible that he could take some sort of coaching role on Mourinho’s staff. We saw him offered such a role with Carlo Ancelotti, and his close relationship with the Portuguese might facilitate a move onto the bench as an assistant.

This worked wonders for Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid. The Frenchman took up a similar function with Ancelotti, and then the reins himself which brought a “threepeat” of UCL crowns with Modric as one of the protagonists from 2016-2018.