The countdown to Luka Modric’s arrival is very much on, with the midfielder set to arrive in Italy in the next 24 hours before joining AC Milan.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), Modric will arrive in Milan early tomorrow morning. From there, he will undergo a medical, sign a contract until 2026 (with an option until 2027) and take the number 14 shirt.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
Until a few weeks ago, that number belonged to Tijjani Reijnders. The No.10 he wore at Real Madrid is currently occupied by Rafael Leao, and so the Croatian will go for the number he had while at Tottenham, rather than the No.19 he had at Real before.
Modric’s stay in Milan will be a very quick visit, as he will then head off for a well-earned three-week post-Club World Cup vacation. He’ll return on August 4th to kick things off at Milanello with his new team-mates, who will be fresh from a tour of Asia and Australia.
Meanwhile, Modric delivered a new message to Florentino Perez’s club and its fans yesterday, with the Blancos’ number 10 shirt draped over one shoulder: “My home for 13 years. My home forever. This isn’t goodbye, but a see you later.”
It won’t take long for the Milan fans to fall in love with him and his Ballon d’Or-winning class. Massimiliano Allegri is certainly very happy to coach him and will use him as a mezzala or as a deep-lying playmaker.
If you really believe a 40-year old Luka Modric is going to light up AC Milan, you need your head examined. Modric left Real Madrid two seasons late. He should have left before Toni Kroos. He could have left with Kroos. In the end he stayed and Madrid failed.
The bulk of Madrid new midfield was there. Modric was supposed to give the direction, but he couldn’t provide that leadership. We can blame Madrid’s failure on injury to their defense and the fact that Aurélien had to play CB and even Fede had to play RB some times.
But the truth is, Modric — a great technician — didn’t bring the fire that could rein in the team. He couldn’t dictate the game any more. So, no one could organise Madrid’s midfield — which I believe he is going to be tasked with to do at Milan. Age is not on his side. He’s coming to a set of players he doesn’t know. He’s not going to be available for the early part of pre-season. To make matter worse, he’s coming to a midfield that is being reformed. It’s a hard road to travel.
Yup.
Modric is a 50mn backup to Ricci at most. Talk about his leadership all you want …
Hit the nail on the head, Nino. My thoughts exactly! . I think people are thinking we’re getting Balon D’or Modric when in reality we’re getting retirement Modric. He’s clearly gotten slower and I’m not sure he’ll enjoy the physicality of Serie A.
Come learn and play with a legend. This is more about an existential effect relating to Milan’s prestige (staying in the news), than it is about minutes played and results on the field.
That said, we’re in a hole at the moment. Allegri approves. so let’s go.