Luka Modric will be the eleventh Croatian player to wear the AC Milan shirt. Widely considered the greatest Croatian player. But what can a world-class footballer, who will turn 40 in September, bring to the Rossoneri? His compatriot Dario Smoje, who wore the Milan shirt during the 1997/98 season, spoke about this. Below is an excerpt from his remarks to MilanNews.it:
What’s your reaction to Luka Modric joining Milan?
"To be honest, I would have been much more excited 7–8 years ago, and much less so now. I understand that Milan wants to take a new direction and is looking for a leader in the dressing room, a figure that has been missing in recent years."
Luka Modric will turn 40 in September...
"We shouldn’t expect him to play every match from start to finish. Of course, he can still be useful — and he proved that even at Real Madrid, where Ancelotti often put him on the pitch. But certainly with limited playing time."
How do you see him fitting into Italian football?
"I’ll tell you — very well. Serie A is less intense than, for example, the English league. And it doesn’t rely so much on physicality. It’s a very tactical league, and for that reason, it might be the perfect competition for the Modric of today."
