Luka Modric Aims To Restore AC Milan's Glory After Signing One-Year Contract

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Luka Modric is eager to elevate AC Milan back to prominence in Italian football. He has signed a one-year contract with the club. Modric departed Real Madrid as a free agent after their Club World Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain. During his 13-year tenure at Santiago Bernabeu, he secured 28 trophies, including five Champions League titles, marking him as the most decorated player in Madrid's history.

Modric's move to Milan was anticipated, with Massimiliano Allegri, the returning Milan coach, indicating his arrival on a free transfer by August. After signing a one-year deal with an option for another year, Modric expressed his ambition to restore glory to San Siro. "I'm very happy to be here at a great club like AC Milan to start a new chapter in my career," he shared on Instagram.

Milan had a challenging 2024-25 season, finishing eighth in Serie A. Paulo Fonseca's tenure as head coach lasted only six months. His successor, Sergio Conceicao, led the team to victory in January's Supercoppa Italiana but was dismissed after just over five months. Consequently, Milan will not participate in European competitions for the 2025-26 season.

This absence from European football marks only the fourth time this century that Milan will not compete on the continental stage. The last instance was due to financial fair play violations during the 2019-20 season. They also missed out on European competitions in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner played 597 matches for Real Madrid. Karim Benzema is the only other player who exceeded 500 appearances for the club since Modric joined from Tottenham. Modric said he looks forward to making fans proud and celebrating victories together at San Siro.

In all competitions during the 2024-25 season, Modric made a record number of appearances for Real Madrid with 57 matches and contributed to 13 goals. This performance highlights his enduring influence on the field.

As Modric embarks on this new chapter with AC Milan, fans are hopeful that his experience and skill will help steer the team back to success both domestically and internationally.