'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Real Madrid will reportedly extend Luka Modric's contract for the sole reason that he won the Ballon d'Or last year.
In case you didn't know
Modric controversially broke the decade-long duopoly held by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the Ballon d'Or after he was awarded the prestigious gong last year.
The Croatian was awarded the prize in recognition of his contribution to Real Madrid's third consecutive Champions League title win and his role in his home country's incredible journey to the FIFA World Cup final last summer.
While Los Blancos boasted of producing yet another Ballon d'Or winner, their season proved to be one of their worst campaigns ever following Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo's exits.
The Madrid outfit went through two managers, Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, before re-appointing Zidane following horrendous results. The Frenchman came back to a team that was not only out of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey but also out of the race in LaLiga.
Real Madrid is now looking to rebuild the team with summer reinforcements, including a dramatic reshuffle, but Modric appears to be safe, owing to a Ballon d'Or clause in his contract.
The heart of the matter
According to Marca, Real Madrid will renew Modric's contract at the club owing to a clause that dictates that his deal would be extended by a year if he wins the Ballon d'Or.
The renewal was reportedly supposed to take place earlier in the season but Real Madrid's torrid season delayed the matter.
If the reports are true, Modric is set to receive a comfortable one-year contract extension.
What's next?
Real Madrid is scheduled to return to action on July 21, when they will face Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich, in the International Champions Cup.
