Real Madrid have confirmed that Luka Modric tore a muscle in his left thigh during Croatia's Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy on Sunday, with the midfielder set to miss up to four months of action.

An official statement on the European champions' website confirmed that "a tear of the left proximal rectus femoris tendon has been found" following a scan after Modric was substituted early on during the 1-1 draw in Milan.

According to AS.com, Modric landed at Madrid-Barajas airport in mid-afternoon on Monday and headed straight to Real's medical clinic to be examined by the club doctors and undergo an MRI scan on his left thigh.

The scans revealed a small tear -- something that will keep the 29-year-old out of action for anywhere between 12 to 16 weeks.

Modric was a key part of Real Madrid's Champions League-winning side last season. JOSE JORDAN/AFP/Getty Images

"I felt a very strong pain in the upper part of my thigh," Modric said. "It still hurts. It is a shame, but football is like that."

Modric's Real teammate Toni Kroos said on Monday, before the results of the scan were revealed: "For us it is a tough blow, because he has played near all the games and was in top form. I do not know very well what he has, and how long he will be out, but for us it is definitely bad news."

The former Tottenham man will miss several key matches including December's Club World Cup in Morocco, the Madrid derby at Atletico on Feb. 8 and Real's first tie of the knockout phase in the Champions League.

However, he could be back in time for the clasico at Barcelona on March 22.