Everyone at AC Milan is trying to convince Luka Modric to renew his contract for another year, a report claims.
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As La Gazzetta dello Sport write this morning, when it comes to possible contract renewals and Massimiliano Allegri’s push for a handshake, it usually ends well. He got Mike Maignan to perform a U-turn on his previous stance of leaving the club, and now wants to convince Modric too.
Luka has already far surpassed his minutes in the last LaLiga season: with Real Madrid, he played 1,820 minutes in the league, and in this Serie A season he’s played 2,096. According to Lega Serie A statistics, he’s second for most successful passes with 634.
Modric also has the highest La Gazzetta rating average, excluding Alisson Santos and Malen, who arrived in Italy only in January and made a splash in the penalty area for Napoli and Roma.
Luka is also a role model outside of the field, with his humility and the standards that allowed him to win a Ballon d’Or. Everyone admires him: not only the coach, but also the staff, the club, and, of course, his team-mates. For the team, Modric is simply ‘the Maestro’.
A strong bond
The fans have even gone so far as to make a chant for him to the tune that Napoli used to have for Maradona. This light doesn’t dim those who play alongside him however, and indeed this is also the Milan of Rabiot, Leao and Maignan himself.
It also ignites the younger players who hoped for a spot and find it taken: Ricci and Jashari are only too happy to learn from the Maestro. Happy also describes Modric’s state of mind: Milano and AC Milan have embraced him since his arrival.
He’s surprised by so much affection and motivated by the atmosphere: being a role model for his younger team-mates is a responsibility that motivates him. Given this background, it’s easy to imagine Luka being convinced to stay with the Rossoneri next year.
A clause already exists that would allow the club to extend his contract for another season, beyond the June 2026 expiry. However, it will not be exercised without the player’s consent. The club also reserves the utmost respect for Modric.
Luka is not only a technical champion, but also a perfect spokesperson for any club event or promotion. He will make a call at the end of the season, with Allegri and the directors eagerly awaiting his decision.
His role would inevitably be different if he did stay, but equally crucial: less quantity in terms of minutes, even more quality, and the usual leadership. The sentiment is positive, and as mentioned, all parties involved are pushing for Modric to stay.
He will be Croatia’s leader at the World Cup in the summer. He already holds the record for most appearances for the national team (194 with 28 goals) and is the first player to have participated in five World Cups, after the 2006, 2014, 2018 (silver medal), and 2022 (bronze medal).
The idea is that he won’t postpone his decision until after the World Cup. This allows the club to organise itself according to his wishes. The chances of another season with the Rossoneri are high, certainly higher than the other options on the table: retirement, Saudi Arabia, or Dinamo Zagreb.