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Luka Modric has been quite literally undroppable for AC Milan this season, and they are planning to have him for another year.
La Gazzetta dello Sport write how on the threshold of his 1,000th minute with Milan, Modric and the club are thinking about extending his time in Italy. Up until now, the Croatian has played 989 minutes on the pitch – 16 and a half hours – with 965 in the league and 24 in the Coppa Italia.
This effort was undertaken without any particular physical strain: his mind is perfectly accustomed to major challenges, so it’s fair to say both sides are looking confidently to the near future. As a reminder, in the summer, Modric signed a one-year deal with an option for a second year.
The outlook is optimistic: Luka has started 11 of 11 Serie A games, without even remotely resembling a player nearing the end of his time on the playing field. On the contrary, they’re already thinking about extending his contract.
A final decision won’t be made until spring, but as things stand, the extension already seems certain. The club believes in it, especially since Modric lives happily in Milan, where life and work are going even better than he imagined.
Milan want Modric extension
The decision to extend his contract – which was expected to be postponed until the end of the season to test Luka’s fitness and integration into the Italian team – could and should therefore be brought forward.
Modric only came off at the end of the games against Cremonese and Udinese in the league, and did not start in the Coppa Italia match against Lecce. He has astonishing numbers: he’s not limited to playmaking, he’s also a midfielder capable of engaging in a duel and entering the battle.
For all his team-mates, he’s a role model to follow. With Luka on the pitch, Rafael Leao has also been persuaded to run more for the team. Others who frequent Milanello admire him for his remarkable humility, despite a career packed with successes and personal accolades, like the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
Another medal ready to be hung around his neck is that of being the first Croatian player to participate in five World Cups. He’s been a member of the national team since 2006, where he holds the record for appearances with 192 matches and 28 goals.
The former Real Madrid man participated in the 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Championships, finishing second in Russia (2018) and third in Qatar (2022). To fly to America and participate in their fifth World Cup, Modric and Croatia will need to earn just one point from their next two matches.
If World Cup qualification is confirmed against the Faroe Islands this week, Modric will be able to manage his energy in the second match and arrive at the derby feeling more rested. This is no small detail, considering all the AC Milan’s inconveniences during the mid-October break.
The future beyond 2026
After the World Cup, Modric should still be able to play for the Rossoneri with the extension of his current contract with until June 2027. The renewal option will give both players the chance to continue together until then, when Luka will have already turned 41.
Even if he’s not a regular starter like he is today, he can certainly be helpful in a future season. Samuele Ricci and Ardon Jashari are developing in the role, and they will continue to see Modric as a source of inspiration.
Currently, Luka is at the centre of AC Milan, with his two younger team-mates having to adapt to playing as mezzali. In the future, however, they could take over from Modric’s deep-lying playmaker role.
In the meantime the former Spurs man has his sights set on breaking yet another record: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the oldest Milan player to have played in Serie A, at 41 years and 146 days.
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