Luka Modric: Age is Just a Number
It does not come as a surprise that at the age of forty Luka Modric is excelling in a revamped AC Milan midfield and at the early stages of the season be the heartbeat of the team. This is a new AC Milan; Max Allergi has come back for the second time after being fired in January 2014.
Milan needed a rebuild after finishing eighth in Serie A in the 2024/25 season. Paulo Fonseca was sacked in December 2024 after a 1-1 draw with AS Roma in the final game of the year. Sergio Conceicao came in and won the Suppercoppa Italian in in Riyadh but failed to qualify for Europe and was relieved of his duties. Max Allegri came in for the second time, they say never go back. But this time so far it has been a wise decision from the AC Milan hierarchy.
At the heart of the AC Milan midfield is a new signing on a free singing from Real Madrid in Luka Modric. Departing Madrid and playing in White for Real Madrid after thirteen years winning all the accolades possible. Modric decided to come to Milan on a one-year deal with an option for an additional year. This would be a dream come true as Modric is a boyhood AC Milan fan, there has been pictures and articles in the Italian press before his move with a young Luka Modric holding a trophy with his parents in a AC Milan tracksuit.
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Luka Modric’s idol growing up in Croatia was Zvonimir Boban who wore the red and black of AC Milan. On Reddit there is a picture of Luka Modric with his son in Dubai in 2024 and his son is wearing an AC Milan jersey. So it had to be written in the stars.
Onto current day Milan and under Max Allegri, Luka Modric is now the fulcrum of the Milan midfield. Max Allegri has gone with a 3-5-1-1 formation with Christian Pulisic or Rafa Leao as the free role behind Santiago Gimenez. Luka Modric has been deployed as the “regista” the deep lying playmaker role in the midfield three flanked by Youssouf Fofana on the right-hand side and Adrien Rabiot on the left-hand side. Milan spent big money on Samuele Ricci in the summer from Torino for a fee of €23m rising to €25m and he has hardly got a game; he has only featured for sixty-one minutes in three substitute appearances in Serie A.
Modric has started and featured in all of 6 Milan leagues games this season and contributed one goal and one assist. The assist was in the second game of the season away in Lecce. Modric assisted Ruben Loftus-Cheek in a 2-0 away win. His sole goal to date for Milan came on matchday three and it was the winner in a 1-0 win over Bologna at the San Siro.
What has caught my eye so far with Luka Modric in a Milan shirt is the calmness and experience to the side and it has been needed. So far in the Milan midfield Luka Modric has averaged a pass completion rate of 91%. Away at Udinese where Milan won 3-0, Modric was the standout player in the midfield with a pass completion of 95.6%, he had 107 touches of the ball and ninety-four passes.
In a game at home to Napoli where Milan had to dig in and get the result which they did. Pervis Estupian was sent off just before the hour and had to play thirty-three minutes with ten men. Milan defended in a Max Allegri way and stifled Napoli attack and got the 2-1 win. After the final whistle, Luka Modric fell to the ground in celebration and embodied what this Milan side is now under Max Allegri.
Modric was the key component and the standout player in the game. 91.4% passing completion but it was the five interceptions which was important for the win. Modric had five out of the ten interceptions made for Milan. He had two more than the whole Napoli side made all together in the game.
It has been really a joy to watch Modric play in a league that I have been watching since the mid 1990’s. I thought the time had been and gone to see him grace the pitches in Serie A. But if its only for a year or maybe two we shall enjoy the architect at work and see him fulfil his childhood dream and play for the red and black of Milan.
By: Scot Munroe / @scot_munroe
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Chris Brunskill / Fantasista / Getty Images