A Real Madrid star has revealed why he now feels bad for veteran duo Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Los Blancos are currently top of the 2023/24 LALIGA table after five wins from five games.
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On the weekend, they came from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad thanks to goals by Federico Valverde and Joselu.
In the midst of their success so far this season, manager Carlo Ancelotti has trusted a slightly different midfield from the experienced pair of Kroos and Modric, with the Croatian having only started one game so far and come on as a substitute in the other four games.
The German, meanwhile, has similarly lost his place in the team, with only two starts to his name in this campaign to date.
Valverde, however, has enjoyed more playing time than the aforementioned duo, starting in four of the five fixtures, while French star Aurelien Tchouameni also appears to now be a guaranteed starter as he has been in the starting XI in all their matches so far.
With a changing of the guard seemingly taking place, Valverde has revealed that he sympathises with Modric and Kroos, who each made 52 appearances last term – the joint-sixth-most in the squad in 2022/23, according to Transfermarkt.
After scoring against Sociedad on Sunday, the Uruguayan was quizzed about keeping the veterans out of the starting line-up.
"I feel a little bad for them," he told Relevo.
"Players of this calibre who have won so many things... I wish we could play with 15 players.
"But the important thing is that whomever gets to play feels the support from those who aren't, like I'm feeling now."
With the two senior playmakers now in the final year of their contracts in Madrid, one of Modric's former sides has already made it public that they will try to re-sign him in January.
Dinamo Zagreb board president Vlatka Peras recently told Index: "He is in the last year of his contract, I will call him this winter, of course.
"How could Dinamo not want Luka Modric back? I can't say that I am in constant contact with him, but I know members of his family.
"It would make sense for him to return to Dinamo at the end of his career, why not?
"Dinamo will certainly do everything in its power to make it happen. Now, whether that will be enough, we will see."
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