The finale of "The Magic Flute": The "Age of Ceremonies" is over

"The Magic Flute" finale: Modric announced that he would leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, and for 5 consecutive years, Real Madrid sent away 5 captains, but this time it was not just a farewell to the captain, but an era represented by the "ceremonial midfielder" came to a complete end. Real Madrid's "magic flute" finally stopped playing, and Real Madrid withdrew to welcome the new era.

The reporter reported coldly For Luka Modric, one of the greatest legends in Real Madrid's history, it was a dignified but particularly sad farewell. On May 22, Modric left Real Madrid somewhat abruptly at the end of the season, which means that the era of Real Madrid's "ceremonial midfield" that spanned 11 years has completely become history. In the La Liga finale at the Bernabeu on May 24, Modric received enthusiastic singing, applause and cheers from the 73,000 fans in the stadium.

Kroos, a former teammate of the 'ceremonial midfielder', was on the sidelines to greet a tearful Modric. The two hugged each other tightly and enjoyed their ceremonial farewell together. The huge banner in the stands, along with the singing of "Luka Modric, Mr. Golden Ball", bid farewell to Real Madrid's legendary superstar and the era of legends.

Modric's "self-announced" departure from the team is somewhat unexpected. After all, the Spanish media were still discussing it last Monday, and there is a high possibility that Modric will renew his contract for another year. Who would have expected that just three days later, the 39-year-old Modric took the initiative to announce that his white-clothed Real Madrid career was "over". The Magic Flute published a long article on his personal social media, full of nostalgia and reluctance.

Indeed, Modric did not want to leave the Bernabeu now, and the Croatian even wanted to announce his retirement at the Bernabeu after a one-year contract extension, like last year's "ceremonial midfielder" team-mate Kroos. Unfortunately, after the season when the four major were empty, Real Madrid, which ushered in the new coach Alonso, was eager to promote metabolism and continued to prevaricate about the contract renewal urged by Modric. After Modric continued to get a reply of "not renewing his contract for the time being, it has not yet been finalized" last Monday, he finally understood that the club did not have the true intention of retaining it, and took the initiative to officially announce his departure.

Unlike Kroos, who took the initiative to retire in the glory era, Modric chose to leave only when he was in poverty, leaving a little unwilling. Although he did his best to maintain his form, disciplined to the point of being an ascetic, the comparison of Real Madrid's results between the two seasons has magnified the traces left by the years on Modric. Florentino finally realized that even if time slowed down, it would eventually come to say goodbye. Although Modric brought 28 trophies to Real Madrid, Croatia's Ballon d'Or is unlikely to return to peak condition.

Modric has expressed his willingness to take a significant salary cut, and even linked his salary to appearances, goals, and team results, and renewed his salary with Real Madrid for another year. But Real Madrid will not compromise in order to retain the aura of the past, from Hierro and Raul to Ronaldo and Zidane, not to mention Modric, who is 39 years old and has poor playing time and performance. Of course, Real Madrid prepared a special farewell ceremony for Mr. Ballon d'Or, but that's about it. Bidding farewell to Modric at the Bernabeu Stadium as a legend is certainly not the best time, and it is even more cold and helpless for Modric, but after all, it is an inevitable result that everyone must accept.

This ceremony of bidding farewell to a "golden age" for Real Madrid is certainly touching, but it is not perfect. Because it was the final curtain call for what could be defined as the best "ceremonial midfielder" in Real Madrid's history, it should have been even grander, with a trophy representing Modric's illustrious career as a farewell gift. Unfortunately, this season, Real Madrid did not have a trophy, only tears accompanied Modric out of the Bernabeu stadium, and completely sealed the best 13 years of his life in his memory.

For 5 consecutive years, Real Madrid sent away 5 captains, but this time it was not just the captain's farewell, but an era represented by the "ceremonial midfield" completely ended. Carlo Ancelotti's departure is only a part of this golden age that has become history, and Modric's departure is the final end of the "ceremonial midfield". Even Modric did not get a cherished "farewell gift": Real Madrid won a penalty in the first half of the farewell game, and Mbappe, who was competing for the European Golden Boot, did not give the ball to Modric, giving the latter the opportunity to bid farewell to his Real Madrid career with the last goal.

It's a little impersonal, but that's the reality. Real Madrid has inexorably entered a new era, and the "ceremonial midfield" represented by Modric has finally come to an end, ceding the Bernabeu to the youngsters, creating a new galactic fleet and a golden age.

Real Madrid's golden era was laid by the 'ceremonial midfielder', which allowed the best club in the world of the 20th century to retain the title for the first quarter of the 21st century. Although the symbol of "Galaxy Phase II" is Cristiano Ronaldo, it is a solid foundation laid by the "ceremonial midfielder", and the whole team has created a "golden age" that is difficult to replicate. The reason why Modric's departure makes Real Madrid fans a little sad is also because the "ceremonial midfielders" led by him are very modest and low-key, and the Croatians almost always face everyone with a smile.

Originally, Modric could have become Alonso's best assistant to integrate into the team after taking over Real Madrid. It's a pity that Real Madrid wants to accelerate the iteration of the team, and naturally it is difficult to leave room for Modric to play his residual heat. The Club World Cup in June will be the last time Modric and Real Madrid will spend together, and he will have the opportunity to use one last trophy as a footnote to his Real Madrid career. Of course, it should also be the last good memory left by the "ceremonial midfield" to the fans.