Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has been included in the club's travelling squad for Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup clash with Atletico Madrid in Tallinn, a further sign that the Croatia international will not leave for Inter.
Inter coach Luciano Spalletti again admitted last weekend that Modric had "shown interest" in joining the Serie A side, although reporters close to the Madrid hierarchy claim that the 33-year-old will instead agree a new contract that pushes him towards the top of the Bernabeu salary scale.
Some reports in Italy had claimed Madrid president Florentino Perez was stalling over the matter but, with Italy's summer transfer window closing on Friday, time to finalise a move to Inter is now very tight.
? This is our 29-man squad for the UEFA Super Cup! #RMSuperCup pic.twitter.com/0LhOTXxdYs
— Real Madrid C.F. ?ﾟﾇﾧ?ﾟﾇﾸ (@realmadriden) August 13, 2018
New Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui has named all available players for the UEFA showpiece season-opener, including injured defenders Jesus Vallejo and Alvaro Odriozola. Also on the plane are other players heavily linked with loan or permanent moves, including goalkeepers Luca Zidane and Kiko Casilla, young midfielders Marcos Llorente and Fede Valverde and homegrown forwards Borja Mayoral and Raul de Tomas.
One player not travelling is 19-year-old Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard, who looks set to go on loan again after a successful spell last season at Dutch side Heerenveen.