Modrić on the Most Expensive Player in Milan's History
The Croatian national team captain spoke at length to Gazzetta dello Sport about his contract extension, the new coach, signings, and his desire to win a trophy in honor of Franco Baresi.
The Croatian national team captain spoke at length to Gazzetta dello Sport about his contract extension, the new coach, signings, and his desire to win a trophy in honor of Franco Baresi.
Luka Modrić (40) has spoken publicly for the first time since officially committing to Milan for another season. In an extensive interview with Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport, the Croatian captain touched on a range of topics, from the disappointment of last season and his reasons for staying, to the arrival of new coach Rúben Amorim, the record signing Gonçalo Ramos, and the loss of club legend Franco Baresi.
Modrić did not hide his disappointment at how Milan ended the previous campaign. "Unfortunately, last season we failed to achieve the minimum goal of qualifying for the Champions League, which left me frustrated and disappointed. Maybe at one point we felt too confident and then suddenly dropped off," he said, adding that he was especially sorry that an injury prevented him from helping in the key matches at the end of the season.
Although he could have signed a new contract as early as December 2025, he deliberately delayed the decision. "I wanted to listen to my body and understand how I felt, whether I still had the same fire... I got the expected answer, that I'm still doing well, that I want to continue, and that I have everything I need to move forward," he explained. The desire of the management and the fans also played a key role: "When I saw how much the management wanted me, I eliminated any doubt."
When asked whether the disappointing season with Milan and Croatia's performance at the World Cup motivated him to continue his career, Modrić was clear: "No, I'm here primarily because it's been great for me. The club and the fans have shown me a lot of love, they've been there for me in every way, and that was the main reason for staying. Also, the club clearly showed they wanted to keep me, which is a nice feeling. I still feel the same passion and desire as always, and I plan to keep enjoying football. This is the best place for me."
One of the important factors in his decision to stay was the arrival of Rúben Amorim as Milan's coach. The former Manchester United, Sporting, and Braga boss succeeded Max Allegri, and Modrić revealed they had been in regular contact during the summer. "We spoke a few times, and I got good feelings; I hope it stays that way, that we remain on the same wavelength and understand each other. He will bring new ideas, and we will try to do everything he asks of us," said Modrić.
Particular attention was drawn to Modrić's comment on the arrival of Gonçalo Ramos. The Portuguese striker (25) joined from PSG for €74 million, making him the most expensive player in the club's history. "A great striker. Maybe that's exactly what we needed and what was missing," Modrić said. Ramos scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 45 matches last season, while his best season came in 2022/23 at Benfica with 27 goals and eight assists in 47 appearances.
Modrić also recalled a painful memory involving Ramos. It was he who scored against Croatia in the 94th minute of the World Cup round of 16, after which Joško Gvardiol's equalizer was disallowed for offside against Igor Matanović. "I recently had a bad experience with him because he scored the goal that knocked my Croatia out of the World Cup," Modrić admitted, adding with a laugh that he had already mentioned it to him while they were in the USA: "Haha, yes, I told him that already in the USA. I don't want to go back to that topic because it's not a fond memory."
Besides Ramos, Modrić also praised the other signings: "I like what the club is doing. Most of the players from last year are still here, along with some new additions that will be important for us. Ramos, Gila, and Diawara will bring extra quality and character to the team."
Modrić also commented on Rafael Leão, the Portuguese winger whose departure had been speculated. "I don't want to give him advice. Rafa is mature enough to know what's best for him. He's a top player, and it's great that he's here. If he stays, that will be fantastic for us because when he's in form, he's one of the best in the world," he said.
Finally, the captain of the Vatreni clearly defined his ambitions for the upcoming season. After winning six Champions League titles and around 30 trophies in his career, his motivation is unquestionable: "When I first arrived, I said I wanted to win with Milan, and that's still my dream: I want to win trophies in this shirt. I stayed to help, not to have fun."
The interview took place shortly after the death of Milan legend Franco Baresi (66), and Modrić did not hide his emotions. "For me, Baresi was the essence of Milan. He was, if not the greatest, then one of the greatest symbols of this club. He was an extremely humble man and a leader who led by example," said Modrić, recalling how he followed him because of Zvonimir Boban.
The Croatian midfielder stressed that winning a title in Baresi's honor would be a dream come true. "Our goal can be to win the title and dedicate it to Franco, in honor of everything he did for us. That would be extraordinary, miraculous, a dream come true. We will work hard to achieve that," Modrić concluded.
