(Football news) The midfield maestro rolled back years to produce scintillating performances in a run to their 14th UEFA Champions League as his performances have been rewarded with a one year contract extension till 2023. Modric has spent nine seasons at Madrid, the latest of which saw him add three more trophies to his glittering career CV. The Blancos followed up Supercopa de España and La Liga successes by securing their 14th European Cup on Saturday night against Liverpool.

Modric was due to become a free agent on June 30, but Madrid have handed him fresh terms that will see him remain at Santiago Bernabeu until the end of the 2022-23 season. The 36-year-old has convinced the board to retain his services after another amazing campaign that saw him record three goals and 12 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions, with one of his best performances saved for their 1-0 Champions League final win over Liverpool. Madrid will also consider extending Modric's contract through to 2024 if he can maintain the same exceptional form next season. There is certainly no danger of Modric walking away from his beloved team on his own free will, with the Croatian making it clear that he would like to retire in the Spanish capital.

Modric in total has racked up 462 appearances for Madrid since his arrival from Tottenham in 2012, winning 19 major trophies with the Los Blancos. The veteran midfielder also picked up the Ballon d'Or in 2018, and is set to continue to pull the strings in the midfield for Carlo Ancelotti's side for the foreseeable future. Modric is aging like a fine wine, this season he has shown why he is a ballon d’or winner, acting as a clutch player when the team needed him the most. He along with Casemiro and Toni Kroos are arguably the best midfield trio that this game has seen, whenever experts tend to doubt them, they put in a match winning performance and keep reminding the world that they are the best. Modric’s under pressure outside of the boot pass against Man City will go down in the history books of Real, which indicates the class and elegance he has and nothing can replace that. Offering him a contract was a no brainer,now only time will tell if he finishes his career at Real Madrid.

Modric said "I hope I can retire in Madrid. Madrid is my home. I feel very happy at the club, in the city, very loved by the people," he said after winning the Marca Leyenda award earlier this month.

"My family is also very happy, so I hope to continue for more years and hopefully finish my career here."

Also read: Real Madrid's unbelievable run ends with 14th Champions League triumph