AC Milan’s newest signing Luka Modric said that the club can’t be satisfied being the average team they were last season when they finished 8th in the Serie A and failed to qualify for Europe in the 2025/26 season. Modric came to Milan after 13 seasons at Real Madrid where he won every trophy imaginable.
“Milan cannot be satisfied with average. It needs to have (the) biggest goals possible, to win titles, to compete with the best teams in the world. And that’s why I’m here,” Modric told Milan TV.
“When I grew up, I used to watch a lot of the Italian league and Milan was my favorite team. At the time in Croatia we followed Milan a lot because it was one of the most popular clubs in the world. And also because there was Zvonimir Boban who was my idol,” he added.
On Monday, the Croatian wizard signed a one year contract with Milan with an option for another season. Talking about why he joined, he said he wanted to continue to play competitive football in Europe.
“I wanted to stay in Europe, continue playing competitive football. I had some other offers but when Milan showed up for me it was clear from the first moment. … What also impressed me (was) how (sporting) director Igli Tare came to Croatia to present me the project,” he said.
Milan rehired Massimiliano Allegri as the coach after last season, replacing the fired Sergio Conceicao. Allegri won the Italian league for the first time with Milan in 2011, then guided Juventus to five straight titles from 2015-19. Tare was also hired recently.
“What I want to bring there is to win, to help my teammates in every aspect, to work hard, to earn my place in the team,” Modric said. “Nothing can come easy in your life. You have to work. You have to fight.” With Milan winger Rafael Leão holding onto the No. 10 shirt, Modric will return to the No. 14 he once wore for Croatia and at Tottenham.
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Leão was the Serie A MVP when Milan won the league in 2022 but has since performed inconsistently and clashed with the team managers. “Leão,” Modric said, “is the present and future of Milan.”
(With agency inputs)
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