MADRID (AP): Croatia midfielder Luka Modric reinforced his commitment to Real Madrid on Wednesday by signing a four-season contract extension through June 2018 with the club.
Modric, who joined Madrid in August 2012 from English Premier League club Tottenham in a deal worth a reported 35 million euros ($44 million), won the UEFA Champions League with the La Liga club last season.
The midfielder said joining Madrid had been like a dream come true. "With my renewal, my dream continues. Hopefully in the next few years we can win many more titles," he said.
Madrid announced the extension, linking Modric to the club for the next four seasons, in a short statement.The 28-year-old has matured into a vital player for the European champions, where coach Carlo Ancelotti values his calm assurance and ability to feed attacking players with skilfully weighted passes from the midfield. He is also prized for his willingness to fall back and tackle in defense.
Ancelotti looks likely to use Modric alongside Xabi Alonso and Toni Kroos. Modric played a key role in the 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Tuesday.
"When I came here two years ago we won the Super Cup," he said. "It would be very important to start the season by winning another Super Cup." The second leg is to be played Friday at Atletico's Vicente Calderon Stadium.
