Modric: "Zidane was an idol"

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has admitted that as a youngster he idolised current club boss Zinedine Zidane, revealing that he treats the training-ground pointers he receives from the Frenchman as “gold dust”.

In an interview with FIFA.com, the Croatia international confessed: “Zidane was an idol. He was one of the players I admired as a child. I think every young player admired him because he was one of the best of his generation.”

And the former Tottenham Hotspur star, who has been in fine form under Zidane, went on: “Every piece of advice he gives you is like gold dust and it helps you improve on the pitch.”

Modric also had words of high praise for Real colleague Cristiano Ronaldo, defining the forward as “an amazing team-mate” and adding that, in his view, the Portuguese ace is “the best player on the planet”.

“Sharing a dressing room with him is fantastic,” Modric continued. “You can learn so much from him: his desire, how hard he works every day, the effort he puts in. It’s incredible.”