Real Madrid 'will allow key player to LEAVE at the end of the season' in shock decision

Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid are on the brink of a Champions League exit and have ground to make up at the top of La Liga.

Real Madrid lost their Champions League quarter-final first leg 3-0 at Arsenal and are second behind Barcelona in the Spanish top flight.

Irrespective of the outcomes in two competitions the capital club expect to win every season, their playing personnel is likely to have a few new faces next season.

With Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold set to arrive and the usual phalanx of targets filling the gossip pages ahead of the summer transfer window, significant outgoings are also on the cards, according to reports.

One big name in particular could be heading for the Bernabeu exit after an exceptionally successful spell with the 15-time and defending European champions.

After extending his contract for a year last summer, the future 39-year-old midfielder Luka Modric is in doubt.

AS reports that Real Madrid have decided not to offer the Croatian another extension and he will therefore be allowed to leave the club in the summer.

"Despite his advancing years, Real captain Modric has still featured prominently this season and has made 29 appearances in La Liga, 13 of which have been starts," adds the Daily Mail.

"However, Modric's time at Real could soon be coming to an end. Since joining from Tottenham in 2012 he has made 583 appearances for the Spanish club and has scored 43 goals, while he has provided 93 assists.

"Modric has won an array of trophies with Real, including six Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles and two Copa Del Reys."

Luka Modric is one of the best players of his generation. Image: Getty

Modric has become one of the most widely respected players in the football world.

He joined Real Madrid in 2012 and has grown in influence in his thirties, helping take the club to the tenth European Cup win they craved and another five for good measure.

The Croatia captain has also enjoyed a storied international career, collecting 186 caps to date and leading his country to both a semi-final and a final in the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

While Modric could be on the way out, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen could be among the players coming in, according to the Daily Mail report.

Real Madrid look to overturn their Champions League deficit against Arsenal this with a well-rested Kylian Mbappe leading the charge in the second leg.