Luka Modric had been seriously weighing the idea of walking away from professional soccer, but a familiar face stepping back into power has made him rethink everything. With Slaven Bilic now officially taking over as Croatia’s head coach, the former Real Madrid star suddenly isn’t so sure he’s ready to hang up his boots.

Modric and Bilic go way back. They first worked together during Bilic’s initial run as Croatia’s manager, and their friendship has only grown since. Whenever Bilic passed through Madrid during his years coaching clubs like West Ham, Watford, Al Ittihad, or Besiktas, it was common to see the two sharing long dinners — two football minds who understand each other perfectly.

Over the past several days, Modric has been closely following Bilic’s negotiations to replace Zlatko Dalic. And in a few of their private conversations, he hinted that he might keep playing if Bilic ended up on the Croatian bench. Now that the move is official, the door is wide open for Modric to extend his run with the national team.

Rumors have swirled about a possible return to Real Madrid, but so far the club hasn’t reached out. One coach who has picked up the phone is Milan’s new manager, Rúben Amorim. He’s told Modric he wants him as part of his project at the club that once ruled Europe. Modric hasn’t given an answer yet, but despite Milan’s disappointing end to the season, he and his family have felt very much at home in the Italian city.

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