European Football Championship - Modric, Pepe and co.: These European Championship stars are without a contract
Large soccer tournaments are always a showcase. Many talents try to recommend themselves for an international top club, who may be looking for an older star for a last lucrative contract in their career. Several teams and agents will be paying close attention - especially for players whose contracts expire on June 30 and are therefore free agents. Here's a selection:
Luka Modric:
The midfield star failed dramatically with Croatia in the group stage due to a last-minute goal by the Italians. He will still play for a while, the 38-year-old said afterwards. Was that also related to his club Real Madrid? Modric has been playing for the Royals since 2012 and won numerous titles with them, including six Champions Leagues. The trend is towards staying, but his expired contract was not extended.
Memphis Depay:
The offensive player has scored over 200 professional goals for his clubs and the Dutch national team in total, but was rarely undisputed. At Atletico Madrid, the 30-year-old scored nine league goals last season. The club announced during the EM that Depay would not receive a new contract.
Pepe:
Even at 41, the defender is still a strong presence in the Portuguese team, which faces France in the EM quarterfinals. For years, Pepe was a pillar for Real Madrid, but in 2019 he returned to FC Porto. Will the European champion of 2016 end his career this summer? In Porto, he will not receive a new contract.
Ricardo Rodriguez:
The Swiss are causing a stir at this tournament, and Rodriguez is in the thick of it. Granit Xhaka recently recruited his teammate. The Swiss captain said over Rodriguez: "He needs to sign a long-term contract somewhere." The contract of the 31-year-old defender with FC Turin has expired.
Adrien Rabiot:
The 29-year-old fought his way into the French team for the EM quarterfinals, but will have to sit out a yellow card suspension against Portugal on Friday evening. Will he stay at Juventus Turin, where he has been playing since 2019? The Italians have reportedly offered him a contract extension. But Milan and clubs from the English Premier League are also said to be interested in the midfielder.
Toni Kroos:
The strategist in the German midfield has already announced that he will retire from professional soccer this summer. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has expressed hope that the 34-year-old will still play for Real Madrid, but it seems unlikely that he will change his mind. The door is always open, Ancelotti said recently. It is unlikely that Kroos will still change his mind. If he plays as well at this EM as he has so far, there could still be one or two persuasive attempts made on him.
- Ricardo Rodriguez's impressive performance at the tournament has caught the attention of several top clubs, including those in the English Premier League.
- The Champions League title is a prestigious trophy that every footballer aims to win, and Ricardo Rodriguez has had the privilege of playing in several such finals with his former club.
- Although Luka Modric's contract with Real Madrid has expired, the midfielder has not ruled out the possibility of extending his career with a European club, given his love for the game and his exceptional skills.
- Memphis Depay's goal-scoring abilities have made him a coveted player in the transfer market, with many clubs looking to secure his services for the upcoming season.
- Luka Modric's last-minute goal against Croatia in the Champions League was a defining moment in his career, cementing his status as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.
- The European Football Championship in Berlin is a stage for some of the world's best soccer stars, with players like Memphis Depay, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos competing for their respective national teams.
- Pepe's return to FC Porto marked the end of a fruitful decade-long stint at Real Madrid, where he was a key player in the team's numerous Champions League victories.
- The EM quarterfinals match between France and Portugal will be a significant test for Pepe and his Portuguese teammates, who will be looking to continue their impressive run in the European Championship.
