Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has expressed profound nostalgia for former teammate Luka Modrić, describing the Croatian maestro as an irreplaceable figure in the club’s history. During an intimate 24-hour interview with renowned Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos, the Brazilian star emphasized that Modrić’s departure for AC Milan last summer left a significant void in the Los Blancos locker room. Vinicius highlighted the veteran midfielder’s relentless winning mentality and his commitment to mentoring younger players as the qualities he misses most in his daily environment.
Modrić, who ended a legendary 13-year tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2025, currently continues his career in Serie A with the Rossoneri. Despite the physical distance, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner’s influence remains a talking point among the Real Madrid squad. Vinicius recalled how the veteran’s competitive fire often manifested during training sessions, where even small-sided games carried the weight of a final for the Croatian captain. This “never-say-die” attitude served as a blueprint for the current crop of Galacticos, including Vinicius and Jude Bellingham.
“There is no one like Modrić. He is at AC Milan, he was at Real Madrid last year, the best in the world,” Vinicius told @IbaiLlanos. “I really miss him because he was always teaching us something. He didn’t like to lose in training, either. He was so angry.”
The bond between the two players played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s recent successes, including multiple Champions League and La Liga titles. Vinicius credits much of his tactical development and finishing prowess to the specific “outside-of-the-foot” techniques that Modrić famously mastered and subsequently shared. While the 40-year-old midfielder now guides AC Milan through a record-breaking unbeaten run in Italy, his “angry” pursuit of excellence continues to haunt and inspire the training grounds of Valdebebas.
As Real Madrid prepares for the knockout stages of the Champions League, the absence of Modrić’s leadership presents a new challenge for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Vinicius’s public admission reinforces the high esteem in which the squad holds their former number 10, viewing him not just as a legend of the past, but as a standard-bearer for the future. The Brazilian winger maintains that the lessons learned from the “best in the world” will remain a cornerstone of his own quest to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
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