Luka Modric laments Real Madrid’s sale of Casemiro

Luka Modric has labelled Real Madrid’s sale of midfield star Casemiro to Manchester United this summer as a ‘shame’.

The pair were part of an all-conquering Madrid side over the past decade, winning five UEFA Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles and three FIFA Club World Cups together at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Manchester United confirmed on Friday that they’d reached an agreement to sign the Brazilian midfielder, with the club set to pay €60m (£51m) plus up to a further €10m in add-ons for his services.

Speaking to the press after Real Madrid’s emphatic 4-1 win over Celta Vigo, Modric expressed his disappointment in losing Casemiro: “The Casemiro thing is a shame, we have made history with him, he has been a fundamental piece for us and we are going to miss him a lot, as a player and a person.

“This is part of football, I am sad to see him go but we have to keep going without him and each player has to give even more in terms of the things he did.”

Despite not having Casemiro by his side on Saturday Modric was in inspired form for Los Blancos, scoring a wonderful goal in the win. Speaking after the game manager Carlo Ancelotti labelled Modric ‘immortal’: “He is immortal. He is always prepared, he always plays very well. His goal has changed the game, until then it was an even and competitive game.”