New Real Madrid head coach Julen Lopetegui has dismissed reports linking midfielder Luka Modric with a move to Inter, saying he has ‘no doubts’ that the Croatian will remain in Spain.
Lopetegui was speaking to reporters who had intercepted him following Los Blancos’s 3-1 victory over Juventus in their International Champions Cup match in America, and seemed confident that the threat of losing another star player after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo is low.
“The president has already spoken about Modric, I don’t have much to add,” he said. “Modric is an extraordinary player and we are waiting for him with open arms.
“I spoke with him after the World Cup and we decided to set 8 August as the date he would return to training after his summer holidays, in order to try and make sure he’s available on the 15th for our first big appointment of the season [the UEFA Super Cup match against Atletico Madrid].
“I told him that he’s a player I’m passionate about, I adore him and he knows that. When he arrives he’ll be happy to play football for Real Madrid, like he was before.
“Am I calm about the situation? Luka is a Real Madrid player and will continue to be so, I have no doubts about that.”
