Former Arsenal manager and Premier League legend Arsene Wenger praised Real Madrid veteran midfielder Luka Modric during his visit to the FIFA Museum in Zurich, where an exhibition dedicated to both of them and other football figures will conclude next week
The exhibition ‘Building a Footballer’, which opened in May and closes on 31st October, reflects on the careers of some of football’s greatest stars, both male and female, including Modric, whose story is particularly moving due to his challenging childhood as a refugee.
The Croatian international never played under Wenger, but they became acquainted professionally when the current Real Madrid star played for Tottenham between 2008 and 2012, during which time the club rivalled Arsenal for London supremacy.
“It’s always a pleasure to watch him play, and everyone who loves football has enormous respect for him,” highlighted Wenger, current FIFA Chief of Global Football Development.
“Becoming a footballer was a dream then, but sometimes, having to wait a bit longer, as he had to do, strengthens your motivation and passion. When it doesn’t come so quickly, you have to wait for it,” the French manager emphasised.
One of the greatest modern-day midfielders, Modric has been doing it at the highest level for more than a decade now.
The Croatian international recently became the oldest player to have ever featured for Real Madrid last week when faced Celta Vigo. The 39-year-old is also the most decorated player in the club’s history with 27 trophies.
Now the first captain of Los Blancos, Modric will be hoping to lead them to a victory tomorrow night against Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season.