Latest news with #Massimiliano Allegri
Al Arabiya
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Luka Modric Won't Stand for the Mediocrity That His New Club AC Milan Displayed Last Season
Luka Modric grew up supporting AC Milan because his idol and fellow Croat Zvonimir Boban played for the club and because Milan in the 1990s was one of the strongest teams in Europe. So now that the 39-year-old former Ballon d'Or winner has joined the Rossoneri after 13 seasons at Real Madrid, he won't stand for the mediocrity that Milan displayed last season for an eighth-placed finish in Serie A that excluded the squad from Europe this coming season. 'Milan cannot be satisfied with average,' Modric told Milan TV. 'It needs to have the biggest goals possible, to win titles, to compete with the best teams in the world. And that's why I'm here.' Modric was shown a photo of himself wearing a Milan warmup suit as a child. 'When I grew up, I used to watch a lot of the Italian league and Milan was my favorite team,' he said. 'At the time in Croatia we followed Milan a lot because it was one of the most popular clubs in the world. And also because there was Zvonimir Boban who was my idol.' On Monday, Modric signed a one-year contract with Milan that includes an option for another season. 'I wanted to stay in Europe, continue playing competitive football,' he said. 'I had some other offers, but when Milan showed up for me it was clear from the first moment. … What also impressed me (was) how (sporting) director Igli Tare came to Croatia to present me the project.' Milan rehired Massimiliano Allegri as the coach after last season, replacing the fired Sergio Conceicao. Allegri won the Italian league for the first time with Milan in 2011, then guided Juventus to five straight titles from 2015-19. Tare was also hired recently. 'What I want to bring there is to win, to help my teammates in every aspect, to work hard to earn my place in the team,' Modric said. 'Nothing can come easy in your life. You have to work. You have to fight.' With Milan winger Rafael Leão holding onto the No. 10 shirt, Modric will return to the No. 14 he once wore for Croatia and at Tottenham. Leão was the Serie A MVP when Milan won the league in 2022 but has since performed inconsistently and clashed with the team managers. Leão, Modric said, 'is the present and future of Milan.'
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Luka Modric completes move to AC Milan after leaving Real Madrid
AC Milan have completed the signing of Luka Modric on a one-year deal, with the option of a further year, which is likely to see the Croatian continue playing at the top-level beyond his 40th birthday in September. The Athletic reported in June that the Serie A side were interested in signing the midfielder after he announced in May that he would leave Madrid as a free agent after 14 years in the Spanish capital. Advertisement Modric, 39, stayed at Madrid for the new-look Club World Cup in the United States, not agreeing official terms with Milan until after the tournament. Speaking to Milan's social media channels, Modric said he was very happy 'to be starting a new chapter' of his career. The Croatia international played 597 times for Madrid after joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, scoring 43 goals and winning 26 trophies. Modric won four La Liga titles, while he helped his side to a record-levelling six Champions League trophies. Following Madrid's Champions League victory in 2017-18, as well as his role in Croatia's run to the World Cup final in Russia, Modric won the Ballon d'Or and became the first player other than Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to do so since Kaka in 2007. Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season, two points off European football places for the 2025-26 campaign. They sacked manager Sergio Conceicao after five months in charge in May, replacing him with Massimiliano Allegri. The Italian returns after being out of work since being dismissed by Juventus in May 2024. Allegri has spent the entirety of his managerial career in Italy, three-and-a-half seasons of those with Milan between 2010 and January 2014 where he won a Scudetto in his first season. Modric joins Milan's midfield after the Italian club sold Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City in June. Real Madrid reached the semi-final of the Club World Cup in July. Modric came on for Jude Bellingham in the 64th minute as the Spanish side lost 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain. He will wear the No 14 shirt for Milan.
National Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Luka Modric signs with AC Milan after 13 seasons at Real Madrid
At age 39, Luka Modric is going to try and help restore seven-time European champion AC Milan to glory after one of the most disappointing Rossoneri seasons in recent memory Article content The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner signed a one-year contract with Milan on Monday after saying goodbye to Real Madrid following 13 highly successful seasons in Spain. The deal includes an option for another season. Article content Article content Article content Modric grew up supporting Milan because his idol and fellow Croat, Zvonimir Boban, played for the club in the 1990s. Article content Modric announced in May that he was leaving Madrid after helping the Spanish powerhouse to 28 titles: Six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey and five Spanish Super Cups. Article content Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season and missed out on a spot in Europe. Article content The Italian club rehired Massimiliano Allegri as coach after the season, replacing the fired Sergio Conceicao. Article content Allegri won the Italian league for the first time with Milan in 2011, then guided Juventus to five straight titles from 2015-19. Article content Allegri reportedly called former Madrid and Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti to ask about Modric's form. Then new Milan sporting director Igli Tare traveled to Croatia's training camp last month to seal the deal with Modric.
Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Luka Modric lands in Italy to sign with AC Milan after 13 seasons at Real Madrid
At age 39, Luka Modrić is going to try and help restore seven-time European champion AC Milan to glory after one of the most disappointing Rossoneri seasons in recent memory. The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner landed in Italy on Monday for a medical with Milan after saying goodbye to Real Madrid following 13 highly successful seasons in Spain. He was expected to sign a one-year contract later with an option for a second season. Modrić grew up supporting Milan because his idol and fellow Croat Zvonimir Boban played for the club in the 1990s. Modrić announced in May that he was leaving Madrid after helping the Spanish powerhouse to 28 titles: six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey, and five Spanish Super Cups. Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season and missed out on a spot in Europe. The Italian club rehired Massimiliano Allegri as coach after the season, replacing the fired Sergio Conceicao. Allegri won the Italian league for the first time with Milan in 2011, then guided Juventus to five straight titles from 2015 to 2019. Allegri reportedly called former Madrid and Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti to ask about Modrić's form. Then new Milan sporting director Igli Tare traveled to Croatia's training camp last month to seal the deal with Modrić. The deal was made before the Club World Cup, but Modrić couldn't join his new club until he finished playing for Madrid at the tournament in the United States. Madrid was beaten 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals in Modrić's final match with the club.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luka Modric lands in Italy to sign with AC Milan after 13 seasons at Real Madrid
MILAN (AP) — At age 39, Luka Modric is going to try and help restore seven-time European champion AC Milan to glory after one of the most disappointing Rossoneri seasons in recent memory The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner landed in Italy on Monday for a medical with Milan after saying goodbye to Real Madrid following 13 highly successful seasons in Spain. He was expected to a sign a one-year contract later, with an option for a second season. Advertisement Modric grew up supporting Milan because his idol and fellow Croat, Zvonimir Boban, played for the club in the 1990s. Modric announced in May that he was leaving Madrid after helping the Spanish powerhouse to 28 titles: six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey and five Spanish Super Cups. Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season and missed out on a spot in Europe. The Italian club rehired Massimiliano Allegri as coach after the season, replacing the fired Sergio Conceicao. Allegri won the Italian league for the first time with Milan in 2011, then guided Juventus to five straight titles from 2015 to 2019. Advertisement Allegri reportedly called former Madrid and Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti to ask about Modric's form. Then new Milan sporting director Igli Tare traveled to Croatia's training camp last month to seal the deal with Modric. The deal was made before the Club World Cup but Modric couldn't join his new club until he finished playing for Madrid at the tournament in the United States. Madrid was beaten 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals in Modric's final match with the club. ___ AP soccer: The Associated Press
