Messi’s departure will allow other players shine- Modric

Real Madrid midfield maestro, Luka Modric, has said that the departure of Barcelona star, Lionel Messi could pave the way for other players to step into the spotlight and continue the club’s success story.

The 2018 FIFA World Player of the Year believes the Blaugrana can still succeed during the post-Messi era, the same way Real Madrid have overcome the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Following a hugely disappointing 2019/2020 season, Lionel Messi has expressed in no uncertain terms his desire to quit the Camp Nou after two decades with the club, and Modric believes the talisman’s departure could create a lacuna which would be filled by maturing players within the Barcelona ranks.

“It would be a huge loss. Like when Cristiano left. But you can’t think about the past. It’s football and that’s it,” Modric told AFP.

“If it happens it will be a huge loss for the prestige of the league. But we need to go forward. Other players will become stars.

“When Ronaldo left, the same thing happened, the life of Real Madrid went on without him and it will be the same for Barcelona and La Liga without Messi.”

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The soon to be 35-year old also expressed optimism of the Les Merengues’s chances of claiming silverware in the coming season.

“We don’t have a young team but we have an experienced team. We have young players, who will get better. I don’t know if we will buy players but even if it stays like this, we have enough quality,” Modric said.

“We showed it in La Liga and we know we can do it again. After the suspension, we came back so motivated. We missed football, we missed winning games.

“We had worked so hard, I think physically we were the best team in the league and that’s why we won it. It was my second La Liga title and I want to win more.”