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Luka Modric Set For Surprise Switch to Remain in Europe

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ryan White | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 10:06 PM ET

Real Madrid’s legendary midfielder Luka Modric is expected to sign with Italian giant AC Milan as a free agent in the coming days.

His contract with Real Madrid expires following the Club World Cup which begins on June 14, but he’s already looking forward to the next challenge. Modrić won a record 28 trophies with Real Madrid, including six Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles, and announced his departure from the historic Spanish club after a 13-year tenure.

Agreement between Luka Modrić and AC Milan over a one-year contract. ❤️

(Source: @repubblica) pic.twitter.com/453kZfwTp0
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) June 3, 2025

Modric’s final season saw him play in a reduced role and he was still impressive. Although he appeared in 35 matches, he started in just 17 of them, finishing with two goals and six assists (tied for second most on the squad) in La Liga.

Meanwhile, AC Milan went through a disappointing 2024-2025 season as they finished eighth in the Serie A standings, which is their worst since the 2014-2015 season.

In an effort to regain their competitive edge, the Rossoneri are rebuilding with a combination of youth and experience under the direction of new coach Massimiliano Allegri and sporting director Igli Tare.

⚫️ EXCL: AC Milan new director Igli Tare dreams of bringing Luka Modrić to the club.

He’s one of the names mentioned in initial internal talks.

Modrić received several approaches from clubs all over the world since leaving Real Madrid, not in a rush to pick his next club. pic.twitter.com/HHe7Bsg54h
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 2, 2025

A move to AC Milan makes sense for a variety of reasons. For starters, Modric has publicly spoken in the past about being a lifelong fan of the club and he was inspired by Croatian legend Zvonimir Boban. Despite his age, he brings elite creativity as an attacking midfielder, with extremely accurate passing, and a great work rate, all of which AC Milan could use.

Transferring to AC Milan allows him to still compete at the highest level there is in the sport, aligning with his plans of to remain in great form for Croatia’s 2026 World Cup campaign.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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