Luka Modrić is an accomplished footballer and should really know better than to be critical of other players especially those who don’t play for Real Madrid or Croatia.
During a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Goal), Modrić was asked about the future of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappé who is often linked with a move to Real Madrid as his contract with the Ligue 1 champions winds down.
“Mbappé has everything to dominate the scene. But I think that to make the leap in quality he needs to go to a championship in which his team does not win so easily.”
Does Mbappe need to leave Ligue 1 to be considered one of the best? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/h4If9XY4cb
— 90min (@90min_Football) June 15, 2020
You know, it’s funny. Mbappé didn’t need to play in a more competitive league in order to prepare himself for the 2018 FIFA World Cup as France went on to defeat Modrić and Croatia 4-2 with Mbappé scoring a goal in the final at 19-years-old.
I’m assuming that Modrić believes Mbappé has to join him at Real Madrid and play in La Liga in order to “make the leap in quality.” Over the past 10 seasons, there have been three champions in Spain. Over the past 10 seasons in Ligue 1, there have been four champions.
I’m not going to say that Ligue 1 is stronger than La Liga top to bottom because it’s not but let’s not pretend it’s not a two-horse race over there either. Going by Modrić’s statement, every talented player in France, Italy, and Germany should leave now because those leagues are all won by PSG, FC Bayern Munich, and Juventus FC.
The fact of the matter is this. Mbappé can win everything and be the global superstar he wants to be in France and at PSG. He is a player who has a very strong connection to his hometown of Bondy, which is a suburb of Paris, and winning a Champions League title in France far more important to his legacy than anything he would win with Madrid. If Mbappé can deliver PSG its first Champions League title, the Ballon d’Or trophy will almost certainly follow.
PSG can pay Mbappé the salary he wants, give him the marketing platform he requires, and build a squad around him capable of competing for the biggest trophy in club football. Modrić is 34-years-old and his comment is very much an old way of thinking about the modern game. Real Madrid is not the only big club anymore and Champions League titles carry more weight than league titles.
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