Today’s El Clasico at Montjuic may be the last match for several players. While there is always a chance of transfers in the summer ending any player’s tenure at either club, two names stand out for Real Madrid: Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez, whose contracts expire this summer.

These two cases are similar but not identical. Lucas’s situation appears clearer than the Croatian’s, as he has accepted that his journey as a Madridista will end this season. Although nothing has been officially announced, the lack of contract renewal talks speaks volumes. This is further reinforced by Real Madrid’s first summer signing, Trent Alexander-Arnold, a right-back who may even be available for the Club World Cup.

Carvajal will be fully ready for next season, leaving no room for Lucas. However, he remains focused on performing his best in the Club World Cup, after which he will likely bid a fitting farewell to the club where he developed and played for ten years, winning 23 titles. At Montjuic, he will likely feature in his 21st El Clasico.

Then there’s Modric. The Croatian star still hopes for a contract extension, believing he has performed well this season and wants to play at the elite level until the 2026 World Cup. He also thinks he has accepted his role as an impactful substitute, and Madrid knows he will never cause problems. However, his age (he turns 40 in September) works against him.

If he plays today (likely coming off the bench), it will be his 38th El Clasico, nearing the record for most appearances in this fixture (Busquets leads with 48, followed by Ramos with 45). He will fight for a victory that keeps Real Madrid’s La Liga title hopes alive, which would be his 29th title with the club—more than any other player in Real Madrid’s history.