AC Milan head coach Max Allegri confirmed at a recent pre-match press conference that the transfer procedures for Croatian midfield maestro Luka Modric will be formally finalized following the conclusion of this year's Club World Cup.
Set to turn 39, Modric has continued to prove his worth this season with remarkable availability and competitive form. To date, he has made 62 appearances for Real Madrid across competitions including La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey, contributing 4 goals and 9 assists. He is not only the "metronome" of the team's midfield but also a spiritual role model for younger teammates. At international level, he has continued to lead Croatia as captain in Euro qualifiers, featuring in all 10 matches and playing the full 90 minutes each time, anchoring the midfield with precise passing and tenacious running. With a total of 72 appearances, he ranks as Real Madrid's most capped player across both club and national team competitions this season — a "iron man" display that has completely dispelled doubts about a “decline due to advanced age.”
For Modric, this transfer represents both a new starting point in his career and another personal challenge. Since joining Real Madrid in 2012, he has won 28 trophies with the club, including 6 Champions League titles, 4 La Liga crowns, and 5 Club World Cup championships. Individually, he edged out Messi and Ronaldo to claim the Ballon d'Or in 2018, establishing himself as one of the greatest midfielders in football history. However, with the rise of Real Madrid's midfield “new golden generation” (Bellingham, Valverde, Camavinga), Modric's starting role has gradually been shared, and AC Milan's offer provides him with the perfect stage to remain a key figure.
As the Club World Cup enters its final stages (with Real Madrid having advanced to the semi-finals), the details of Modric's transfer will be finally settled in the coming days. For this legend who has graced football for two decades, the journey from Madrid to Milan may well be a new chapter in continuing his legacy.
