Luka Modric Aching To Bring AC Milan Back To Prominence: “I Still Have the Hunger and Desire”

Last Updated:July 16, 2025, 23:10 IST

Modric signed a one-year contract, with an option for an additional season with the seven-time Champions League and 19-time Serie A winners.

Luka Modric unveiled by AC Milan (X)

Veteran Croatian midfielder Luka Modric has officially signed a one-year contract with AC Milan, bringing an end to his illustrious 12-year stint at Real Madrid.

Speaking to the club’s official channel on Wednesday, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner shared his excitement about the next chapter in his storied career.

“I’m happy to be here and I look forward to a new adventure," Modric said. “I wanted to stay in Europe, to continue playing competitive football. I had some other offers, but when Milan showed up for me, it was clear from the first moment."

Modric, who will turn 40 in September, stressed that the decision to join Milan was driven by his desire to remain at the highest level of the game.

“I’m never satisfied, I always want more," he added. “When you’ve experienced that feeling of winning, you want to feel it even more. I still have hunger, desire—still wanting more."

Though AC Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season and missed out on European competition, Modric remains convinced of the club’s stature.

“Milan is still one of the biggest clubs in Europe. This club cannot be satisfied with average. It needs to aim for the highest goals—winning titles and competing with the best. That’s why I’m here."

A Storied Career Comes Full Circle

Modric leaves Real Madrid as one of the club’s most decorated players, having won:

• 6 UEFA Champions League titles
• 4 La Liga championships
• 2 Copa del Rey trophies

He joined Madrid in 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur, becoming a central figure in the Spanish club’s golden era.

His contract with Milan includes an option to extend for a second season, as the club looks to rebuild under new leadership.

When asked about the secret to his long career, Modric pointed to passion as the driving force.

“The most important thing is the love for the game," he said. “That’s what I still have, what I still feel in my belly—this fire. There are no secrets. For me, it’s the passion, the love for football. I’m never satisfied."

A Childhood Dream Realized

Modric also shared that joining Milan held a personal significance dating back to his youth.

“When I was a kid, I watched the Italian league a lot. Milan was my favourite team—especially because Zvonimir Boban was there. He was my idol."

Boban, a fellow Croatian, was a key figure in Milan’s success during the 1990s, wearing the Rossoneri jersey from 1992 to 2001.

(with AFP inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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