Modric brands Leao the ‘present and future’ of Milan in shirt number explanation

Despite wearing the number 10 at Real Madrid, Luka Modric will wear the number 14 at AC Milan, and there are a few reasons why.

A player like Modric would have all the right if he wanted to wear a certain number, in most cases. However, the man that Modric is, he probably wouldn’t, and this has been displayed in his first few days at Milan.

After wearing the 10 shirt for years, the Croatian would have likely asked for it if it were available. Instead, he took the number 14, and he explained why in his first interview.

“I like this number. I know that in Milan, the number 10 is worn by a great player like Leao. He is the present and the future of Milan. Since the number 10 wasn’t available, I had to choose another one.

“I took 14 because I like it, I also wore it for the national team, at the beginning of my career and at Tottenham. I brought it, I hope it will do well here too.”

Why the 14?

At Tottenham Hotspur, as he references, he chose the number 14 as 10 was not available. However, he also liked the number itself, due to his admiration for Dutch wizard Johan Cruyff, as he admitted in an early interview in his career.

Additionally, the decision to support Leao before he has even played a game with the winger is massive. It shows support for the current hierarchy as well as belief in the winger – something which is only a good thing this season.

Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Leao, with the belief of Massimiliano Allegri and a model professional like Modric, could be unstoppable. Here’s to hoping.