In his first major interview since his sensational summer move to AC Milan, legendary midfielder Luka Modrić has spoken about his high ambitions for the club, making a bold comparison between the Italian giants and his former club, Real Madrid.
The Croatian icon was full of praise for his new team. “Milan at that level of Real Madrid? Certainly,” he told Croatian outlet 24sata. “When I first came here, you could immediately see how big a club this is. The organization is at a top level… You can feel the greatness, just like with other big clubs. Seven titles in Europe, second only to Real Madrid, that says a lot.”
Modrić explained that after leaving “the biggest club in the world,” his only desire was to continue his career at another historic club where expectations are high, a criterion that Milan perfectly fulfilled for him.
The 39-year-old was clear about his personal mission at the club. He acknowledged that Milan, in previous years, “was what Real Madrid is today,” but admitted that they had “lost that somewhere along the way.” His goal is now to help them reclaim that elite status. “Milan should strive to get back to that level. It’s up to me to help as much as I can this year and enjoy it,” he stated.
The veteran midfielder admitted his one disappointment is the club’s absence from European competition this season. “It’s a shame that Milan do not play in Europe,” he said, before finding a silver lining. “Maybe that’s not bad because we’ll have the whole week to prepare for the games.”
Luka Modrić has clearly not arrived in Milan simply to see out the final years of his career. He has come with a clear mission: to use his experience and quality to be the catalyst for the Rossoneri’s return to the pinnacle of European football