There were few doubts, but last night confirmed, though it hardly needed confirming, that Milan fans could not wait to see Luka Modrić in the Rossoneri shirt. The Croatian star was the most applauded during the pre-match presentation of the new signings, and his entrance onto the pitch in the second half was greeted with a roar from the 71,000 spectators at San Siro for the Coppa Italia round of 32 clash against Bari.
If the fans were moved, the same can be said for Modrić himself, who was clearly touched by the reception he received. The former Real Madrid man came on with Milan already 2–0 ahead and firmly in control, but he still managed to display glimpses of his immense Ballon d’Or–winning talent. Whenever the ball was at his feet, it was evident he was a special player, the kind San Siro had not seen in Milan colours for some time. His refined touch stood out as something rare, drawing gasps of admiration from the stands with a few classy moves. Nothing sensational yet, but it was a first taste of what the fans can look forward to throughout the season, as pointed out by those at Milannews.it.
Modric was close to scoring on his debut...
Luka could even have marked his official debut in red and black with a goal: first when he shot straight at the keeper from a good position, and then in the 90th minute when, instead of finishing from close range, he chose to look for a teammate in the six-yard box, only to find no one there. A goal would have been the cherry on top of a night that the Croatian champion will never forget.
