GdS: Countdown begins to ‘Modric Monday’ – the shirt number he will wear at Milan

The countdown to Luka Modric’s arrival is very much on, with the midfielder set to arrive in Italy in the next 24 hours before joining AC Milan.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), Modric will arrive in Milan early tomorrow morning. From there, he will undergo a medical, sign a contract until 2026 (with an option until 2027) and take the number 14 shirt.

Until a few weeks ago, that number belonged to Tijjani Reijnders. The No.10 he wore at Real Madrid is currently occupied by Rafael Leao, and so the Croatian will go for the number he had while at Tottenham, rather than the No.19 he had at Real before.

Modric’s stay in Milan will be a very quick visit, as he will then head off for a well-earned three-week post-Club World Cup vacation. He’ll return on August 4th to kick things off at Milanello with his new team-mates, who will be fresh from a tour of Asia and Australia.

Meanwhile, Modric delivered a new message to Florentino Perez’s club and its fans yesterday, with the Blancos’ number 10 shirt draped over one shoulder: “My home for 13 years. My home forever. This isn’t goodbye, but a see you later.”

It won’t take long for the Milan fans to fall in love with him and his Ballon d’Or-winning class. Massimiliano Allegri is certainly very happy to coach him and will use him as a mezzala or as a deep-lying playmaker.