Interviewed by La Gazzetta dello Sport during the 'EA7 World Legends Padel Tour', former midfielder for FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC, Ivan Rakitić spoke about his friend and former Croatian national teammate Luka Modrić, now a star and leader of AC Milan under Massimiliano Allegri.
Modrić is three years older than you. Doesn’t it feel strange to see him still playing?
"Honestly, no, because Luka is different from everyone else. He has an incredible passion and physically he still looks like a young kid."
At Milan they hope to enjoy him for another year…
“Only one? The way I see it, Modrić can go on for at least another two or three seasons.”
For now, the league title is being contested. Do they still have a chance to win it?
“Inter Milan are seven points ahead and obviously they’re the favorites, but Sunday’s derby showed that Milan isn’t there by chance and can play its chances. There are still quite a few matches left and in football you should never say never. And knowing Modrić, he certainly won’t have given up. In fact, I can tell you he still has a great desire to lift trophies.”
If not now, maybe next year? He has an option…
"Who knows (laughs). But rest assured that if Luka stayed at Milan, he would do it to win."
Meanwhile, in Milan he has even adapted to playing as a defensive midfielder…
"Because the first thing for him is the good of the team. If the team needs Modrić to play like Gennaro Gattuso, then he does it. He has always been intelligent, simply a leader."
Speaking of Gattuso, you had him as a coach at HNK Hajduk Split…
"A great one. I had faced Rino as an opponent and I immediately realized he was a tough guy, but in a good way. In Split, getting to know him better, I discovered we have many things in common. We’re both very demanding, for example."
Do you expect Italy to qualify for the World Cup?
"I will definitely be cheering for you and for Rino (Gattuso). It’s not easy, because the playoffs always hide pitfalls when they’re decided in a single match."
And Croatia instead? The generation of Rakitić, Marcelo Brozović and so on is no longer there. Only Modrić remains, in fact.
"Today’s team is also strong and well-equipped. There are interesting young players, like for example Petar Sučić who plays for you at Inter. And in such a particular tournament it’s difficult to make predictions, but I’m confident.”
We’ve also seen Rakitić do very well in padel, paired with the excellent Vincent Candela. Is this the beginning of a new career?
“No (laughs). I used to play tennis, so it was natural for me to try padel as well. My job is another one, at Hajduk (sporting director, editor’s note). And I’m studying with the UEFA Executive Master as well, although I still don’t know what I will do in the future.”
