The bet Real Madrid players made about CR7 leaving for Juventus – revealed by Modric

Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric in Madrid colours [Courtesy]

Luka Modric has admitted that Real Madrid's players were so sure that Cristiano Ronaldo was going to stay at the club in the summer that many made bets with each other that he'd remain.

Ronaldo surprised many when he cut short his nine-year stay in the Spanish capital in the summer, choosing to move to Turin in a multi-million-pound deal.

The Portuguese has so far scored four times in nine appearances for his new side, and Modric says he was shocked that both he and Real boss Zinedine Zidane left.

Luka Modric has admitted that Real Madrid's players were so sure that Cristiano Ronaldo was going to stay at the club in the summer [Courtesy]

"I did not think that Zidane was going to go, nor Ronaldo," he told L'Equipe.

"When the rumour about Cristiano came up we made bets among ourselves in the dressing room and we were sure he was going to stay, but everyone makes his life choices."

Modric is the favourite to following in Ronaldo's footsteps this year and win the Ballon d'Or , which his former teammate has lifted five times.

But the Croatia star - who inspired his side to the World Cup final in the summer - says the comparisons between him and Ronaldo end there, adding that he doesn't feel he deserves the award.

"I do not appreciate the overexposure of the media, frankly, I do not care much about going further in this area," he said.

Modric is the favourite to following in Ronaldo's footsteps this year and win the Ballon d'Or [Courtesy]

Cristiano Ronaldo is in another level of football and it is normal that he is also from the media point of view, I prefer simplicity.

"To be honest, I do not like to talk like that and say: 'Yes, I'm the one who deserves the Ballon d'Or.'

"The important thing for me is to be in the field as I have been for months, this year 2018 has undoubtedly been the best of my career and my only goal is to continue at this level."