Modric renews with Milan for another season
Luka Modric will continue at Milan until the end of next season. The Italian club confirmed on Thursday the contract renewal of the Croatian midfielder, who had an automatic one-year extension clause in place since his arrival.
How the deal came about
The original contract, signed last summer after Modric left Real Madrid, already included the option of a 12-month extension. The club chose to exercise it, continuing a partnership that began almost as an experiment and turned into a central piece of the team.
In an official statement, Milan highlighted the “experience and quality” the Croatian has brought to the midfield since his debut. “One of the finest and most iconic players in world football”, the club said, also stressing the “humility and passion” with which the veteran has performed on and off the pitch.
Amorim’s endorsement
The stay has direct backing from Ruben Amorim, who takes charge of the team in the 2026-27 season after the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri. Even before making the deal official, the Portuguese had already made clear his interest in keeping the Croatian in the squad, calling him an “incredible” player the club “wants to keep”.
Amorim acknowledged, however, that Modric will need careful minute management. After Croatia’s elimination at the World Cup, the midfielder will have a rest period, and the coach has already signaled that he should not feature in every match. Even so, he will be a key figure in the team, according to the manager himself.
A record in sight
With the renewal, Modric will remain on the pitch even after turning 41 in September. The detail opens the way to a historic mark: he could become the oldest player to appear for Milan, surpassing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, holder of the current record at 41 years, five months and 15 days. To do so, he just needs to take the field from March onwards.
Last season, the Croatian played 37 matches, starting in 32 of Milan’s 38 games in the Italian Championship. A facial bone fracture, suffered in the goalless draw against Juventus in April, kept him out of much of the closing stretch, a period in which the Rossoneri ended up outside the top four and without a spot in the next Champions League.
Before wearing the Rossoneri shirt, Modric spent 13 seasons at Real Madrid, where he played 597 games and lifted the Champions League six times, in addition to four Spanish titles. It was there, in fact, that he won the 2018 Ballon d’Or, breaking the hegemony of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the award since Kaká in 2007.
