Luka Modric rejects huge Real Madrid deal as stars seek exits from crisis club
LUKA MODRIC has reportedly rejected a bumper new contract from Real Madrid as he continues to seek a move away from the crisis club.
He is one of a number of stars to be considering quitting the club which has been in disarray since the departure of Zinedine Zidane in the summer.
According to , the Croatian star, 33, turned down Los Blancos' first offer of a new deal.
The Ballon d'Or winner's current contract expires in 2020 and the club are understandably keen to tie him down on a long-term basis.
Inter Milan were interested in signing the World Cup's Golden Ball winner in the summer but could not agree a deal.
They are likely to try and go back in for him next year, though, as Serie A continues its resurgence following Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Juventus.
The San Siro club are understood to want to offer Modric a two-year deal worth £9million per year.
On Wednesday, Inter's sporting director Piero Ausilio told Sky Sports Italia: "I did not think it was possible to sign Modric, but why not dream?
"I only told who proposed it to me that we were there, that if what they told us was true, they had to talk to Madrid and let us know.
"Honestly, we did not feel ready for a negotiation because we knew our possibilities. Try again? In football today you can never say never."
A reunion with Ronaldo at Juventus is the most likely option for Modric, with odds of 2/1 making the Italian champions the favourites.
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Inter are back at 7/1 while odds for the two Manchester clubs have been cut with a return to Tottenham and a move to Liverpool outside chances.
Real Madrid are believed to be confident of securing a new deal for Modric by the summer but if nothing could be agreed by the summer, would consider selling him so they do not lose him for free the following year.
Isco is another star who may be on his way out of the Bernabeu. The playmaker is out of favour with the new boss Santiago Solari and has not started a league game since his appointment.
A move to the Premier League could be on the cards for the Spaniard with Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal all vying for his signature.
Meanwhile Gareth Bale's future remains unclear although his recent performances - including a hat-trick at the Club World Cup - will certainly have helped his chances at the European and world champions.
Despite the winter break kicking in for LaLiga clubs last weekend when Real Madrid won the Club World Cup, Modric has still been in the news.
Last week he was - unsurprisingly - named Croatian Athlete of the Year and backed it up yesterday by winning the Balkan Athlete of the Year award.
He pipped tennis star Novak Djokovic to the accolade despite the Serbian fighting back from elbow surgery in February to win two Grand Slams and end the year as the world No1.
Modric became the first footballer to win the award since Bulgaria's Hristo Stoichkov in 1994.