Qatari league targets Real Madrid star

Spanish press reports indicated that the Qatari league is making attempts to sign veteran Croatian star Luka Modric, the Real Madrid midfielder, in a move aimed at strengthening competition in the Qatari league and matching the successes achieved by the Saudi league in attracting stars from European leagues. Modric, 39, is out of contract with Real Madrid at the end of the current season. The Spanish newspaper "Marca" revealed that Qatar is keen to increase competition in the Qatari league, and despite Qatari interest, the Croatian player prefers to retire with the royal team and has his sights set on participating in the 2026 World Cup with the Croatian national team. The newspaper stated that there has been no official contact between Real Madrid and Modric to discuss a contract renewal. The newspaper added that negotiations may renew soon, as a decision on his future is expected to be made in the coming days.