I’m targeting Euro 2024 glory with Real Madrid legend Luka Modric – but first I’m out to KO his Champions League dream
JOSKO GVARDIOL cannot wait to be part of Luka Modric’s curtain call with Croatia this summer.
But first he plans to end his countryman’s hopes of bowing out with yet another Champions League title.
Modric, 38, is expected to retire from international football after Euro 2024 in Germany.
He also looks likely to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season with his former club Dinamo Zagreb among those looking to sign him.
In 12 years at the Bernabeu, the former Tottenham man has won the top Uefa pot FIVE times.
And he wants one more back in North London to round things off, with the final at Wembley on June 1.
Gvardiol said: “I don’t need to waste my time talking about his qualities as we all know them.
“But he’s an even better person — and a leader on the pitch. This will be his last Euros, the last season for the national team.
“So as a leader and person, I’m really happy I had a chance to play with him and share a dressing room.
“I need to enjoy the last moments with Luka. But it’s also fun to face national team-mates with your club.”
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Over the last week, Gvardiol, 22, has scored a couple of goals that Modric would have been proud of.
The defender is settling in nicely at the Etihad after his £77million summer switch from RB Leipzig in Germany but now he wants silverware.
If City are to defend the Champions League trophy they won in Istanbul last June, they will have to do it the hard way.
They must see off 14-time European “kings” Real Madrid in tomorrow’s quarter-final second leg at the Etihad.
The tie is finely poised at 3-3 with Arsenal or Bayern Munich awaiting the winners in the semis.
Gvardiol had not joined City when they first tasted Champions League glory last term — and he is eager to experience it.
He said: “We are going to face Real Madrid, the kings of this competition but if you ask me, there is no fear.
“If you’re afraid of trying and doing something, it’s better to watch it on TV.
“We want to win the cup. If you want to go through then you need to beat Real Madrid.
“In the Champions League if we want to win it we have to face the best teams.”
Gvardiol scored a stunner in Madrid last week then added another long-ranger to round off the scoring in Saturday’s 5-1 rout of Luton.
City’s Mateo Kovacic — who also scored a cracker against the Hatters — is impressed by his international team-mate.
The former Real Madrid midfielder said: “Josko is doing great scoring goals and he’s happy here which is the most important thing.
“He’s loving Manchester life and enjoying his football. We know he is a great player, he just needs to keep going.
“We both feel comfortable and we love being here.”
