Most transfers are closely guarded secrets, with clubs desperate for their rivals not to find out which players they’re chasing for fear of being beaten to a target.

But Dinamo Zagreb’s bid to bring Real Madrid and Croatia legend Luka Modric back to the club where he started his career in 2003 is a bit more open.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

On Saturday, Dinamo paid for a full-page advert in Spain’s best-selling sports newspaper, Marca, in an attempt to convince the 38-year-old to follow his heart if he decides tp leave the Santiago Bernabeu when his contract expires this summer.

The ad featured a blue shirt — Dinamo’s home colours — with the name Modric and his No. 10, with the hashtag “It makes all the sense in the world,” and the signature of Dinamo president Velimir Zajec.

Buenos días 💙#imalobismisla pic.twitter.com/60YKb6a7GA

— GNK Dinamo (@gnkdinamo) April 6, 2024

Dinamo also posted a message on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, saying “Buenos dias” (Good morning in Spanish) with a video showing a traditional-looking Spanish breakfast, before the newspaper is opened to the advert.

Modric is expected to leave Madrid this summer after playing a much-reduced role in the Madrid first team this season, making just 12 starts and 13 substitute appearances in LaLiga thanks to competition from youngsters Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham.

He began his career at Dinamo Zagreb before moving to Tottenham Hotspur for £16.5m in 2008 and spent four seasons in London before joining Madrid for £30m in 2012. Since then he has lifted five Champions Leagues and three LaLiga titles, with 24 trophies won in total.

play

Luka Modric thumps in a beauty from distance

Luka Modric collects the ball at the edge of the area and delivers an exquisite strike to put Real Madrid ahead.

Modric is arguably Croatia’s greatest-ever player. He led his country to the World Cup final in 2018 — where they were beaten 4-2 by France — and was awarded the Ballon d’Or later that year.

The veteran is yet to speak publicly about his future and in 2023 he rejected lucrative interest from Saudi Arabia to stay at Madrid for another year, while he has also been linked with a move to MLS.

It might be an unusual strategy, but Dinamo’s public wooing of Modric isn’t the first time a major transfer has been preceded by a newspaper advert.

In 2018, Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic took out a typically bombastic full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times to announce his imminent arrival in MLS, with the phrase “Dear Los Angeles, You’re welcome.”