The end of the CMK era at Real Madrid

Real's legendary trio all left the team.

"Casemiro left, Toni Kroos retired, now it's time for Modric to turn a new page, leaving a huge void not only in terms of expertise but also in terms of a huge legacy at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium," AS wrote.

Starting in the 2015/16 season, the trio of Casemiro, Kroos and Modric formed a solid midfield, serving as a springboard for a golden period with 4 Champions League titles in just 6 years. Rafa Benitez set the stage, but it was Zinedine Zidane who really exploited the value of this trio to the fullest.

The French legend placed them at the heart of a team with the famous "BBC" attack, sacrificing James Rodriguez to create balance. The result was 3 consecutive European elephant ear cups, a rare feat in modern times.

When Zidane left, Carlo Ancelotti returned and once again put his full trust in the veteran trio. In the 2021/22 season, they created the miracle of Real Madrid's 14th championship in the Champions League with incredible comebacks against PSG, Chelsea, and Man City.

Modric confirmed he will leave Madrid after this season.

Ancelotti once likened them to the "Bermuda Triangle". But then, all miracles come to an end. Casemiro left just a few days after that statement, going to MU with an offer he couldn't refuse.

Real let Casemiro go in favour of Aurelien Tchouameni, a replacement who cost €80m, but Tchouameni was unable to fill the void immediately. It was not until the end of this season that the Frenchman somewhat lived up to expectations.

Kroos' departure last summer made the midfield problem even more difficult. Real believed that the remaining factors could fill the gap, but the results were not as expected. Meanwhile, Modric, although no longer a regular starter, was always a mainstay whenever he entered the field. He controlled the tempo, keeping the team calm and sharp in midfield.

Now, the CMK trio is a thing of the past. Real face the challenge of rebuilding their midfield without a clear path. The club will find it difficult to recruit Ruben Zubimendi, while other names such as Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister, Rodrigo, Reijnders or Stiller are only potential solutions.

Whoever comes next will face enormous pressure, inheriting the 13 years of glory that Modric and his teammates left behind at the Bernabeu. An era has ended, not only for Real Madrid, but for European football as a whole.

Source: https://znews.vn/dau-cham-het-cho-ky-nguyen-cmk-o-real-madrid-post1555097.html