Luka Modric has just officially joined AC Milan with a 1-year contract, with an additional 12-month extension clause. Thus, when he turned 40 in September, the Croatian midfielder is still sure to play at the top. More specifically, playing in Serie A for AC Milan helps Modric maintain the necessary competition to aim for the 2026 World Cup next year, a major tournament at the national team level that could be the last in his career.
In the Luka Modric recruitment deal, Milan did not seem to encounter any obstacles. In May, when the veteran midfielder was confirmed to have left Real Madrid, not too many clubs in Europe wanted Lukita's services. At the age of 39, despite possessing a series of dreamable achievements, age no longer allows Modric to create enough appeal, except for the case with AC Milan.
Right after finishing the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign with Real Madrid and stopping in the semi-finals, Modric was present at Casa Milan to officially wear the red-black shirt of Milano. At the San Siro, Lukita will wear the number 14 shirt, a new start for him in the final stages of his peak career.
Speaking on the day of his new team's debut, Luka Modric could not hide his emotions and happiness. The Croatian midfielder himself has also identified this as a new chapter in his career and everything is considered to be starting over in a new shirt. Modric has everything at Real Madrid but at AC Milan in the upcoming journey will be a completely different challenge. Real is still at the top while Milan has been in decline for a long time, so the road ahead is not simple.
Last season in Serie A, AC Milan finished in 8th place, 2 points behind the group that played in the European Cup in the 2025-2026 season. They sacked coach Sergio Conceicao after 5 months in charge in May, replacing him with Massimiliano Allegri. The Italian coach returned to the coaching bench after a period of retirement, since being fired by Juventus in May 2024.
In the past, Max Allegri also led Milan, so he is considered the one who can understand the team's remaining problems, thereby finding a way to completely resolve them.
One of the things Allegri needs to solve is to find a replacement for Tijjani Reijnders, the midfielder who joined Man City. In Milan's organization, Reijnders are considered the brainchild of the midfield. Therefore, when this midfielder left, Milan urgently needed someone of the same level to replace him.
In terms of class, Modric is much better than Reijnders but is too old. In the coming season, Milan will not play in the European Cup, only playing domestically, so the pressure on Modric's physical strength will be reduced, thereby making it easier for him to get into the rhythm. Modric has always shown perseverance even at the age of 39, but he cannot guarantee anything about continuity, that is Allegri's assessment.
