For the official announcement, we’ll have to wait a few more days, but by now there is no longer any doubt that Luka Modrić will soon become a new Milan player. The Croatian champion will soon undergo the usual medical exams and then sign his one-year contract with an option for another year, worth 3.5 million euros plus bonuses.
The agreement was reached in recent hours, also thanks to the blitz by Milan sporting director Igli Tare, who went to Croatia—where Modrić is in training camp with his national team—and returned to Milan with the player’s approval.
Another Ballon d'Or winner at AC Milan
As reported this morning by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Croatian midfielder, who before wearing the Rossoneri shirt will participate in the Club World Cup in the United States with Real Madrid, will be the 13th Ballon d’Or winner to play for Milan: the first was Gianni Rivera in 1969, the most recent was Ronaldinho, who during his time with the Rossoneri was also coached by Massimiliano Allegri. And speaking of the new Milan coach, there’s great curiosity among Milan fans about how he will use Modrić on the field.
Modric and Allegri – Where will the Croatian play in Milan's lineup?
The answer provided by the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport is very simple: anywhere in midfield. He can play as a quality mezzala (central midfielder), perhaps the role in which he has performed best in his career, but he can also play in front of the defense as a deep-lying playmaker in a three-man midfield. And if, with his technique and tactical intelligence, he can also do well playing further forward as a trequartista (attacking midfielder), even though Allegri prefers players who are good at making runs into the box in that role—like Boateng, for example, during his first spell on the Milan bench. His position on the pitch will depend on the team built around him, but for Luka, this is not a problem—because a player like him can truly play everywhere.
