Luka Modrić spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about Milan, his contract extension, and the season ahead.
Luka Modrić is gearing up for his second season in the Rossoneri shirt, with his goals clearer than ever. Dreams, silverware, his contract renewal and the club’s Portuguese trio were among the main topics in his interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, which we bring you below.
On Franco Baresi and his legacy
“For me, Baresi is the essence of AC Milan. If not the greatest, he’s certainly one of the club’s greatest icons. He was an incredibly humble man, a leader who inspired everyone through his example. His passing is an immense loss for every Milan fan. I met him a few years ago when Real Madrid faced Milan in Los Angeles. Even though we never had the chance to really talk, he was one of those players I always looked up to. Seeing him made me think: that’s the kind of person you have to be to play football. He was the captain and an inspiration for every supporter.”
“Franco wasn’t a man of many words. He led by example, with humility. The moment that best sums him up is the way he came back from a meniscus injury at the 1994 World Cup and even stepped up to take a penalty against Brazil. I found myself in a similar situation. That tells you everything about his leadership.”
“This season we want to win a trophy and dedicate it to him. If we manage to do it, it would be something extraordinary—a dream. We’ll do everything we can to make it happen.”
Why he stayed and his desire for redemption
“I’m genuinely excited to be back. I really enjoyed last season, even though we failed to reach our minimum objective, which was extremely frustrating. What made it even worse was that I couldn’t help the team in the decisive matches at the end of the season because of my injury. That frustrated me even more. That’s why I wanted to come back and make up for last year.”
“I stayed because I feel great here. Milan and the fans have shown me so much love from day one. They’ve always stood by me, and that’s the main reason I decided to remain.”
“The club showed how badly they wanted me to stay, and that’s something every player appreciates. I still have the same passion, the same hunger, and I still love playing football. Milan is the best place for me. I hope I can help this team bounce back and have a much better season, learning from the mistakes we made. Until Lazio-Milan we were still in the Scudetto race. Once that objective slipped away, we collapsed and got things wrong.”
On his contract extension
“I always wanted to play for another year. I could have signed the extension back in December, but I needed to listen to my body and understand whether I still had that competitive fire and the desire to keep playing. The answer was exactly what I hoped for—I still feel good and I’m still passionate about the game.”
“As soon as the club made it clear they wanted me to stay, I had no doubts. During the World Cup, both before and after it, Milan showed me trust and affection. That’s all I needed.”
First impressions of Amorim and Gonçalo Ramos
“I’ve spoken with Amorim a couple of times and I have a very good feeling about him. I hope our relationship stays that way, always on the same wavelength. He’ll bring fresh ideas, and we’ll do everything we can to put them into practice. Hopefully everything goes according to plan.”
“I’ve followed Gonçalo Ramos closely. He’s a top striker and exactly the kind of centre-forward we’ve been missing. I hope he keeps producing the way he did at PSG and Benfica, even though I recently had a bad experience against him. He seems like a great person and I hope he scores plenty of goals.”
On Rafael Leão staying at Milan
“I really like what the club is doing. We’ve kept the core of last season’s squad and added three new players who will bring quality and character.”
“It’s certainly not my place to give Rafa Leão advice. He’s mature enough to know what’s best for himself and his career. He knows how much the club cares about him and how much the fans love him. He just needs to keep working hard here at Milan.”
“Even if last season wasn’t his best, he’s still a fantastic player. If he stays, he’ll be a huge asset for us. When he’s at his best, he’s one of the best players in the world. I’d love him to stay—I always want Leão in my team.”
Modrić’s dream
“My dream is to win trophies with Milan. Whether it’s the Scudetto or a cup competition, that’s still my dream. It’s why I’m here, and that objective has never changed.”
