Will Luka Modrić leave Madrid for Miami in the mid-season?

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Ever heard the phrase "age like fine wine?" In football, no player embodies this phrase as well as Luka Modrić. When the then-27-year-old Croatian decided to make it a bit difficult for Daniel Levy in 2011 by publicly stating he wanted to play Champions League football, Levy decided to sell to Real Madrid rather than Chelsea for £30 million. He would later become part of an "undroppable" Madrid side that would conquer Europe three consecutive times. However, now 37, the former Ballon d'Or holder is finding minutes hard to come by at the remodelled Santiago Bernabéu. Many were surprised to see the veteran midfielder sign a one-year contract extension with the Spanish giants after an influx of new and not-so-new arrivals in the summer. After seeing his team lose the title race early last season to lifetime rivals FC Barcelona due to an unlucky spate of injuries to his key players, Los Blancos' head coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to recall much of his loan army. This caused some midfielders, such as Brahim Diaz (AC Milan) and Dani Ceballos (Arsenal), to return to strengthen the first-team squad. And, with the arrival of star performer Jude Bellingham, Modrić's path to the first team looks as bleak as ever. He has started just four league matches this season, with Bellingham recording ten goals in his first ten appearances for his new club. However, there might be a solution for the Croatian...the MLS. After the "acquisition" of one of the best players of all time, Lionel Messi, Inter Miami are looking to bolster their ranks after a disappointing season so far. Despite his electric start to the season, Messi cannot be expected to play every game like he used to at FC Barcelona. Having a like-for-like midfield metronome to keep the midfield ticking in the presence or absence of Messi is probably a good solution, and Modrić might just be the answer to the Beckham-owned MLS outfit. According to many bookmakers in a guide for the top sites, Miami were one of the favourites for the MLS Cup this year after signing Messi. Within days of his signing, their average odds to win the MLS moved from +17500 to +1800. While it's too late for this season, player like Modrić could further boost their chances next year and perhaps make them the favorites next time around. Back in Madrid, with Ancelotti picking Ceballos and Diaz to round up games, the writing is on the wall for the veteran Croatian. In the derby match against fellow capital club Atlético Madrid, Modrić was substituted for striker Joselu, and subsequent matches against Las Palmas and Girona saw him watch from the sidelines. It is looking likely he might remain there. Just over ten years ago, Luka Modrić came to the Santiago Bernabéu as a brilliant midfielder ready to take La Liga and the Champions League by storm. Having realized this dream with 23 titles and three appearances shy of 500 in total, he might have to leave to begin another phase in the MLS, where he is sure to keep things ticking in a Messi-led team. The recent lunch with Beckham is surely looking like an invitation to Miami, and Modrić should look into it.