Massimiliano Allegri didn’t wait long to make headlines in his return to the San Siro. In his first press conference back as AC Milan manager, the 56-year-old confirmed that Luka Modric will join the club this August, bringing an end to one of the most storied midfield careers in Real Madrid history.
Modric, who turned 39 in September, will sign with Milan following his final appearance for Los Blancos at the FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament where Madrid face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final this week. It’s a fitting curtain call for the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, who has spent over a decade setting the standard for midfield excellence in Spain and Europe.
“Modric will arrive in August. He is an extraordinary player,” Allegri said on Monday. For Milan, it’s a move that speaks to both ambition and immediate leadership. The Croatian is expected to play a pivotal role in helping the Rossoneri rediscover their identity after a forgettable season that ended with an eighth-place finish and no European football.
The return of Allegri to Milanello marks a full-circle moment. The Italian tactician led the club to its last Scudetto in 2010-11 before his long spell at Juventus, and his reappointment signals a reset in philosophy. Modric is likely to be central to that reboot—not just tactically, but culturally. A natural winner with immense experience, his presence could elevate younger teammates and recalibrate expectations.
But Allegri’s rebuild is already marked by some notable exits. Midfield engine Tijjani Reijnders completed a high-profile switch to Manchester City in June, and French left-back Theo Hernandez appears bound for Al Hilal. While those losses sting, Allegri pointed to key figures who remain committed.
“Mike Maignan and Rafael Leão seem willing to stay,” he noted, underlining the spine around which Milan’s revival could form. Leão, in particular, remains a cornerstone of the club’s attacking identity, and his decision to stay could be influenced by the arrival of a player of Modric’s caliber.
Milan will open their Serie A campaign on August 23 at home against Cremonese, and with Modric’s expected arrival that same month, the timing couldn’t be better. There will be questions about how Allegri integrates a veteran midfielder into a squad that’s skewing younger, but Modric’s understanding of the game—his ability to dictate tempo and control transitions—should slot naturally into Allegri’s system.
Modric leaves behind 13 decorated years at the Santiago Bernabéu, where he won everything there is to win, including five Champions League titles. While his time in Madrid draws to a close, the next chapter begins with a club determined to climb back to the summit of Italian football. And with Allegri back on the touchline and Modric soon to arrive, Milan are setting the stage for something more than just another rebuild—they’re aiming for resurgence.
