Over the last few years, several Real Madrid legends have moved on from the Santiago Bernabeu — and this summer, two of the club’s greatest-ever players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, are set to become free agents.
While a return to Real Madrid seems completely off the table, another La Liga side could offer both players a surprising route back to Spanish football — Rayo Vallecano.
Rayo Vallecano Interested in Real Madrid Legends
Rayo have made a name for themselves by bringing in big-name veterans in recent seasons. Stars like Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez have previously joined the club, and president Raul Martin Presa now says the door is open for Ronaldo or Modric to do the same.
Speaking to Onda Cero, Presa stated:
“Falcao wanted to live in Madrid and came; players like Modric or Cristiano know that if they want to play for Rayo, they will live in Madrid but they cannot earn what they have earned.”
While the club cannot match the astronomical wages offered in Saudi Arabia or MLS, Rayo offers the lifestyle and location of Madrid, something both Ronaldo and Modric have valued in the past.
Conference League Football a Possible Incentive
Rayo Vallecano will be playing in the UEFA Conference League next season — a competition neither Ronaldo nor Modric has won. That small but unique incentive could be enough to convince one or even both legends to give La Liga one final chapter.
Although nothing is confirmed yet, Presa’s comments clearly show that the club is open and ready to negotiate, should either player be interested.
For now, the main destinations being discussed for Ronaldo are in Saudi Arabia and MLS, while Modric has been linked to clubs in Croatia, Qatar, and the United States. Still, the idea of finishing their careers in Madrid — even with a smaller club — could have emotional appeal.
MadridistasZone view:
Seeing legends like Ronaldo or Modric in a Rayo Vallecano shirt would feel surreal, but football always surprises us. If they truly want to enjoy their final days in football while staying in Madrid, this move might make more sense than most people think. Personally, I’d love to see them end their careers in Europe — even with a smaller team — rather than disappear in lesser leagues.