Veteran midfielder Luka Modric has signed a new one-year deal to remain at Real Madrid.
The Croatian, 35, will stay with the Spanish giants until the summer of 2022, completing a decade of service for Los Blancos.
Modric was set to become a free agent at the end of June but has now agreed on new terms at Real, who have just finished second in La Liga behind city rivals Atletico Madrid.
He moved to the Bernabeu from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for £30 million in 2012 and has now made nearly 400 appearances in all competitions, scoring 28 goals.
During his ime in Spain, Modric has won four Champions League, two La Ligas, one Copa del Rey and three Fifa Club World Cups.
While Modic's future is now secured, it remains to be seen whether manager Zinedine Zidane will still be in charge at the start of next season.
Reports that Zidane, who failed to win a trophy this season, had already told Real players that he would be leaving were shot down by the Frenchman.
"How am I going to tell my players that I am going now? It's a lie," he said after Real's 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on May 16.
"I focus on this season. There is a game left and we are going to give everything. I only care what happens in this finale. The rest, we will see at the end of the season."
Real 2 Villarreal 1: player ratings
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Thibaut Courtois 6 - The Belgian was largely a spectator in the second half as Madrid pinned Villarreal back in their half. Reuters -
Alvaro Odriozola 6 - The 25-year-old was closest to Pino’s opener but there was not much he could have done against a delicate touch that opened up space for the shot. Runs up the right helped stretch the play but the full-back didn’t threaten with his delivery. Reuters -
Eder Militao 5 - A poor clearance gave Villarreal a second bite and the Yellow Submarine made no mistake with Pino capitalising. A costly mistake on the final day of the season despite Madrid eventually coming back to claim all three points. EPA -
Raphael Varane 5 - Zinedine Zidane’s side were lucky not to be three down at half-time and Varane, as the more experienced defender, has to do more to organise the defence. Carlos Bacca was given too much space in the box but couldn’t take advantage of careless Madrid marking. AFP -
Miguel Gutierrez 7 - An alert performance saw the 19-year-old full-back deal well with attacks down Madrid’s left flank. The youngest player on the Madrid backline looked the most experienced defender on the day. AFP -
Federico Valverde 6 - Kept things ticking in the middle of the park but quiet overall from the highly-rated Uruguayan. AFP -
Casemiro 7 - Defensively astute as usual and could have scored in the first half when heading into the hands of Geronimo Rulli. A precise pass in the second looked to have found Benzema’s head for the equaliser until VAR ruled out a very tight call. AFP -
Luka Modric 8 - Direct runs at defenders and progressive moves saw the Croatian at the heart of all of Real Madrid’s best attacks and a goal capped off a strong performance in the middle of the park. EPA -
Marco Asensio 5 - His game could only get better after a non-existent first-half but Zidane didn’t allow the winger to make up for it, replacing him in the 56th minute with Rodrygo. AFP -
Karim Benzema 8 - Looked to have levelled the scoring after a quiet first half and could have been ruled to be offside by a single millimeter. The Madrid veteran did his best to get the title over the line with an expert finish and assist for Luka Modric late-on but it wasn’t enough. AFP -
Vinicius Junior 6 - Couldn’t get going before being replaced for Rodrygo in the 56th minute. Ineffective. EPA -
SUB: Rodrygo (Vinicius Jr, 56) 8 - Madrid looked much more threatening as the Brazilian provided an instant spark. A strong press almost led to a goal after forcing Geronimo Rulli to scuff the ball away into the path of Benzema before Rodrygo found the Frenchman in the box with a pass for the leveller. AFP -
SUB: Isco (Marco Asensio, 56) 6 - Provided some good delivery from set pieces and linked play but the attacker never looked a threat. EPA -
SUB: Marcelo (Odriozola, 68) 6 - A more attacking option helped Madrid advance up the left flank with a change to 3-5-2 but the Brazilian couldn’t crack the code against Unai Emery’s stubborn yellow wall. EPA -
SUB: Mariano Diaz (Casemiro, 68) 6 - Worked hard when introduced but couldn’t get the better of Pau Torres and Raul Albiol. Could have released the ball earlier on the break in the 91st minute but couldn’t make use of the space. AFP -
SUB: Nacho (Miguel Gutierrez, 68) 6 - Some could question Nacho’s introduction with Madrid needing two goals but he added presence from set pieces. Couldn’t make an impact on the game with the final stage of the game played in Villarreal’s attacking third. Reuters -
VILLARREAL RATINGS: Geronimo Rulli 6. The 29-year-old Argentine was beaten by a Benzema header – but the Frenchman was offside. Then made an error where he was closed down and the ball went to Benzema who shot wide. Finally beaten by Benzema after 87 minutes and then by Modric at the death. AFP -
Mario Gaspar 6. Villarreal’s 30-year-old captain and right-back. Won his aerial battles. Dependable as ever. EPA -
Raul Albiol 7. Hugely experienced 35-year-old did well in his 51st club game of the season against his former club. He’ll be playing European football next season – and it could be Champions League if Villarreal beat Manchester United on Wednesday. EPA -
Pau Torres 7. The local hero. Played accurate balls forward towards Moreno and finished an excellent league season in the centre of defence. He has many suitors for his €65 million buyout clause, including United, who he’ll play against on Wednesday. Stepped out to rule Benzema offside for what he thought was a goal, but then deflected Modric’s winner past his own goalkeeper. AFP -
Alfonso Pedraza 6. Left-back who spun forward and crossed effectively against a lacklustre Madrid. AFP -
Yeremi Pino 7. A product of Villarreal’s excellent youth system The 18-year-old right-sided midfielder stabbed his team ahead after controlling a lovely ball from Moreno. Moved up front to play alongside Moreno when Bacca went off. EPA -
Etienne Capoue 6. Took advantage of a mistake by Casemiro and ran forward with the ball before shooting over after 28 minutes. The Frenchman, who played for Spurs and was so impressive for Watford at Old Trafford before his move to Villarreal at the start of this season, was taken off after 66 minutes. Reuters -
Daniel Parejo 8. Central midfielder playing his 52nd game of the season. He takes the free-kicks and has enjoyed a very good season. Too casual on occasion but almost everything Villarreal did went through him. AFP -
Manuel Trigueros 7. In his 10th season in the first team at the only club he’s ever played professional football at. His 53rd club game of the season – no Villarreal player has played more. Beaten for pace by Odriozola on the left but was lurking to meet a Pedraza cross after 31 minutes as Madrid had a stumbling start. AFP -
Gerard Moreno 7. Twenty-three league goals makes him the top-scoring Spaniard in La Liga and assisted in six more – including Villarreal’s first. Madrid didn’t pick him up when he dropped off to receive the ball. Kept changing position. At half time, the 29-year-old had been on the ball twice as many times as Karim Benzema. Didn’t score but played well. AFP -
Carlos Bacca 6. A hat-trick last week for the Colombian when Villarreal beat Sevilla 4-0, but clumsy touches in the first half failed to increase his side’s lead as he failed to steer a cross past Courtois. EPA -
SUB: Ruben Pena 6. The right-back came on for Capoue after 66 and played central midfield. EPA -
SUB: Francis Coquelin 6 .The former Arsenal defensive midfielder came on for Bacca after 66. Like Parejo, his move from Valencia before this season was controversial but the 33-year-old played 31 games to justify it. Reuters -
SUB: Dani Raba - On for Pino after 81. Infrequently used right winger. AFP -
SUB: Paco Alcacer. On for Moreno after 81. Well respected fox-in-the-box who hasn’t been starting in recent weeks. Villarreal’s second top scorer this term with 12 in 37 games in all competitions. AFP -
SUB: Gomez - On for Trigueros after 86 as Unai Emery, perhaps with Wednesday in mind, used five subs. EPA
Real won their final game of the season at home to Villarreal on Saturday to finish two points behind champions Atletico in the title race but five clear of arch-rivals Barcelona in third.
France attacker Karim Benzema remains convinced that the man who has led the club to three Champions League wins, two La Ligas, one Uefa Super Cup and two Fifa Club World Cups, is not going anywhere.
"He's been the Real Madrid coach until now, right?" Benzema told L'Equipe. "I don't see him leaving. He won't leave, you'll see.
"If he leaves, he leaves ... but for now I don't see Real Madrid without Zidane.
"He's my coach, but he's like an older brother. He's always supported me, whether I'm doing well or not, and he's helped me to get better every year."
