Experience and attitude: Modric sets standard ahead of the derby

Massimiliano Allegri is continuing to prepare his players for Sunday night’s derby against Inter, and he welcomed Luka Modric back to Milanello on Wednesday.

The players are continuing to return from international duty. As MilanNews report, Rafael Leao, Strahinja Pavlovic, David Odogu, and Christopher Nkunku returned to base this morning, while this afternoon Modric landed back in Italy.

Not only that, but the Croatian midfielder immediately made himself available for the afternoon’s training session, showing that he wants to get straight into the hard work required ahead of a huge match like the one this Sunday.

Now, only four players are missing, who will return tomorrow: Alexis Saelemakers, Koni De Winter, Zachary Athekame and Davide Bartesaghi.

Photo by AC Milan

Modric sets the standard

Modric has been nothing short of a revelation since he arrived at Milan, and not just in terms of his quality on the pitch which is still evident even at the age of 40. He is setting an example for everyone else with his commitment to self-care and dedication to professionalism.

His early return is good news for Allegri given that he put the Croatian quite literally in the middle of his tactical set-up, as the deepest-lying midfielder in a 3-5-2 system. Hakan Calhanoglu is apparently the ‘anti-Modric’ for Sunday, so an intriguing battle awaits in the engine room.

Modric will play his first Milan derby on Sunday, after appearing 42 times in the Madrid one for Real Madrid from 2012 to 2025. The 40-year-old Croatian has won 18 times against Atlético, drawing 14 and losing 10.

He hasn’t scored yet in a derby game, but has provided five assists. He will not have forgotten the ecstasy of that first San Siro goal, the winner against Bologna, but being decisive against the Nerazzurri would be on a whole other level.