An underwhelming 2022/23 campaign from Luka Modric may have set a precedent for the playmaker to lose favour at Real Madrid this season, but given his current ability and what he has done over the course of his career, he deserves to be given his roses.
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The act of handing an individual their roses/flowers is universally recognised as an acknowledgement of love and/or praise. It is an expressive way of showing an individual affection, and given the start to the new season, the Croatian may need some.
Last season saw a slight decline in the normally consistent mercurial performances from the Croatia captain as Los Merengues conceded both their Spanish and European titles to Barcelona and Manchester City, respectively. The midfielder's performances were not the only reason as to why the Spanish giants dropped a notch, with an injury-plagued campaign for Karim Benzema also being a massive factor for Real's drop in form.
Nevertheless, the 2018 Ballon d'Or's displays seemed to be a cause for concern for the chiefs at Valdebebas as they took a particularly long time to offer their legend a contract extension during the off-season. This apprehension has translated to the pitch as well, with manager Carlo Ancelotti having handed the 38-year-old only four starts in the 11 matches Los Merengues have played thus far in this campaign, leaving him on the bench for the entirety of the match in two of those games. This is an unfamiliar position for the Zadar native as, ever since he was signed by Jose Mourinho back in 2012, he has almost always been a starter for the record European champions.
How could such a situation occur for a player who, only two years ago, was a pivotal part of Real's memorable UEFA Champions League-winning campaign? After all, the Croat's arrival coincided with a trophy-laden era in the club's history.
Why does Modric deserve his roses?
Even though Modric only has 37 goals and 77 assists in his 497 appearances for the Spanish giants, the playmaker's ability to drastically affect a game without directly contributing to goals is what has endeared him not only to Real fans, but to football fans the world over.
Bursting on to the world stage as a young midfielder for his national team during the 2008 UEFA European Championship qualifiers, Tottenham Hotspur wasted no time in luring the diminutive Dinamo Zagreb man to north London after the conclusion of the continental showpiece, and so began the player's journey in the highest echelons of European football.
While he started playing for the Lilywhites on either wing of a 4-4-2 formation, in a 2010 north London derby, Harry Redknapp decided to play him centrally, and following that win, Modric would never play on the wing again. While he was small in stature, such was his ability to control the ball in tight spaces when surrounded by defenders that his teammates always felt comfortable giving him the ball.
He helped the English capital-based side cement themselves within the league's higher places, essentially forcing the eradication of the traditional top four and the genesis of the top six as we know it today.
His performances in the Premier League captured the attention of Real and, almost seamlessly, it was as though Modric raised his level once again. He has been an ever-present for the club since making the move to the Spanish capital over a decade ago, helping them win five Champions League titles, three LALIGA crowns and two Copa del Rey championships. While he may have been good when he initially touched down at the Santiago Bernabeu, his performances got better the older he got, and in 2018, he was awarded the illustrious Ballon d'Or award.
His best performances with Croatia also came in the latter stages of his career, when he helped lead his nation to a FIFA World Cup final in 2018, and also to a third-place finish at the next edition of the global showpiece.
What's next for Modric?
Nobody is entirely sure what is next for the legendary footballer, but what is certain is that he is currently unhappy with his situation at Real. Modric still believes he can play at the highest level and help Real to further success, but it seems they are more concerned with his succession plan.
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Modric has been relegated to a mentorship role to the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham, but Saudi Arabia and Inter Miami have reportedly made their intentions to pursue the playmaker clear should his situation in Spain persist. The ex-Zagreb man may no longer be the player we saw being crowned the best player in the world five years ago, but he certainly is still good enough to play a massive role in the ambitions of any mid-table side in any of Europe's top five leagues.
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