At AC Milan, everyone is waiting for him eagerly. Not just the fans, but also his teammates and Allegri. It’s a matter of days, then Luka Modric will land in his new home, the Milanello training center, and begin a new adventure.
The former 2018 Ballon d’Or winner will celebrate his 40th birthday on the pitch, wearing the Rossoneri shirt, but those who know him guarantee that he wants to do so as a protagonist. He has inside him the fire that burns only in true champions and leaders. For this reason, he is preparing with his usual professionalism: when he underwent medical tests and signed the one-year contract (with an option until 2027), he was given a training schedule prepared by the technical staff that will allow him to show up in good physical condition.
The same procedure was used before the July 7 training camp for all the other players, and no one forgot to do… their homework. Just imagine if the best player in the history of Croatian football, the captain of the national team who aims to be a protagonist at the next World Cup, could forget. He’s coming off a season with 63 matches played at Real Madrid and, even though the Devil won’t participate in European competitions, he’s determined to be a protagonist. He doesn’t just want to be one of the Ballon d’Or winners who, throughout history, have worn the Rossoneri shirt. Luka aims to make his contribution and, if possible, to win. Over the years at Real, Mister Six Champions Leagues, he got used to that...
Modric's role and leadership...
His teammates await him eagerly and they don’t hide it in interviews: everyone is incredibly eager to share the dressing room with him because they know that number 14 will bring experience and leadership. That very quality was sorely lacking for the Devil last season, and now the problem has been solved. Because Modric has been used to playing at the highest level all his life and has always done so as a leading actor, that is, managing the ball in difficult moments and often pulling magic out of his “enchanted” feet. The leadership he was recognized for at Real, even when the locker room included champions like Ronaldo, Benzema, Kroos, and Sergio Ramos (just to name a few), he will bring with him to Milan and to Allegri’s joy, who has already started shaping the midfield around Luka. Where will he place him? Primarily he’ll use him as a mezzala (central midfielder), but there will be matches where he’ll play as a regista (deep-lying playmaker). Alongside Ricci or in his place. Certainly, when he’s at 100%, he will rarely sit on the bench. In midfield, Milan has many options, and if Jashari arrives, the solutions will increase even further, but Modric is… Modric. His teammates know it too, they’re waiting for him convinced that he can help them make a leap in quality. On and off the field.
Enthusiasm surrounding Luka Modric's move
The Croatian’s signing has also stirred up the fanbase, as more than 30,000 have already renewed their season tickets at San Siro. The corporate restructuring, which began with the hiring of a sporting director of Tare’s caliber and the bench appointment of Allegri, the Italian coach (currently active) with the most Scudetti won, were decisions made by CEO Furlani that were approved by the fans, but perhaps it was the Modric move that made it clear something is changing compared to 2024–2025: Luka is a champion and wants to win. If he chose Milan, it’s because he received guarantees. And then there’s the jersey issue: for a couple of seasons, the best-selling ones were those of Leao and Pulisic (along with Theo and Reijnders, now… out of production), but the Croatian’s shirt is aggressively climbing the rankings. Just wait until he pulls off one of his signature pieces of magic and then...
Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport
