Luka Modrić (foto: Official TW/IG/FB account)
Luka Modrić, nearing 40, will join Milan after leaving Real Madrid, skipping European football for the first time in 15 years and shortening his vacation to stay in top shape.
Luka Modrić continues to redefine what’s possible in football at nearly 40 — and he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
The legendary Croatian midfielder, who turns 40 in September, is set to leave Real Madrid after the Club World Cup and sign with AC Milan. While many of his peers would be winding down, Modrić is preparing for a fresh challenge in Italy — and is even shortening his summer vacation to start strong with his new club.
Gazzetta dello Sport revealed after Madrid’s win over Juventus in the Club World Cup that Modrić is already focused on being available to Massimiliano Allegri, who sees him as a key figure in Milan’s midfield, anchoring play just in front of the defence.
"A gesture that speaks of his professionalism and desire to make himself available to Allegri," the Italian outlet wrote, underlining how rare it is to see a player of his age sacrificing time off to hit the ground running.
Out of respect for Real Madrid, Modrić has postponed his medical exams and will only sign with Milan after officially departing the Spanish giants. Interestingly, Milan will not be competing in Europe this season — the first time in 15 years that Modrić won’t play international club football — meaning he will have more recovery time between matches.
This past season, Modrić’s workload was immense: - 35 La Liga matches (17 starts) - 14 Champions League appearances - 5 Copa del Rey matches - Plus appearances in the Supercopa and Club World Cup
He has already featured in 60 matches and could reach 64 by season’s end. For a player approaching 40, those numbers are astonishing.
And there’s still more ahead — Modrić is expected to lead Croatia one final time at the 2026 World Cup, offering national team coach Zlatko Dalić one last chance to build around his enduring midfield maestro.
From Madrid to Milan and onto the world stage again — Modrić’s journey continues, stronger than ever.