Luka Modric has admitted it came as a great surprise when Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane left Real Madrid this summer.
The Croatian spoke of Zidane’s exit after guiding the club to three successive Champions League titles while Ronaldo departed for Juventus after nine years in the Spanish capital.
“I didn't expect it for either of them,” Modric told France Football, in quotes carried by ESPN FC.
“I did not think Zidane was going to leave and it was the same thing for Ronaldo.
“Actually, when the rumour about Cristiano came out, we made bets between us in the dressing room and we were convinced that he would stay in the end.
“But everyone makes their own choices in life.
“Winning the Ballon d’Or? Truth be told, I don't like that way of talking and saying: 'Yes, it's me who deserves the Ballon d'Or'.
“The important thing for me is to be on the pitch as I have been for months now.
“This year, 2018, has undoubtedly been the best of my career and my only objective is to keep going on this path, on this trajectory.
“You're not going to get me to say: 'It's me who should win it.' That is up to the experts who vote. It's in their hands.”
