Croatia captain Luka Modric has joined AC Milan on a one-year contract, with an option for a second season, after leaving Real Madrid.
Speaking to Milan TV on Wednesday, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner said the move allows him to “stay competitive and in Europe.”
“I’m happy to be here and excited for this new adventure,” said Modric, who turns 40 in September. “I had other offers, but once Milan came in, it was clear from the beginning.”
After 12 successful years with Real Madrid—where he won six Champions League titles, four La Liga trophies, and two Copas del Rey—Modric now joins a Milan side that finished eighth in Serie A and missed out on European competition.
Despite that, Modric believes in the club’s pedigree. “Milan remains one of the biggest clubs in Europe. This club should always aim for the highest goals—titles, trophies, and competing with the best. That’s why I’m here.”
On his enduring drive, he said: “I’m never satisfied. I always want more. The love and passion I have for football is still burning inside me. That’s the secret—there’s no other.”
He also shared a personal connection with the club. “As a kid, I watched a lot of Italian football. Milan was my favourite team because of Zvonimir Boban, my idol.”
Modric, a World Cup runner-up in 2018 and one of Croatia’s greatest-ever players, is expected to bring experience and leadership to a Milan squad aiming to return to the top of Italian and European football.
