Napoli turned more than a few heads when signing Kevin De Bruyne earlier this summer but AC Milan made sure they would not be outdone, snapping up Luka Modric on a free after he left Real Madrid.

Modric, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner and six-time champion of Europe, put pen to paper on a one-year deal and Destination Calcio watched on as he made his debut against Chelsea at the weekend.

Stamford Bridge Bow

From the warm-up to his first steps onto the pitch, all eyes were on Modric. The Croat was the focus of children and adults alike, applauded by the home crowd despite his history with their London rivals Tottenham.

Modric played the second half and immediately the Italian side improved, growing into the game under his calm influence. The entire midfield seemed more assured with his presence. Modric had 35 second-half touches and a pass completion rate of 93%.

Yet Milan boss Max Allegri will be hoping that Modric is much more than just a midfield metronome this season. He will want his magic and experience to rub off on his team-mates, especially the two younger midfield signings Ardon Jashari and Samuele Ricci. Both are 16 years younger than the ex-Real Madrid star.

Despite a turbulent 90 minutes and a 4-1 defeat for Milan, Modric’s influence was certainly a highlight. To be fair to the squad, they had played 90 minutes against Leeds in Dublin just 24 hours prior to the Chelsea clash in London, with the likes of Yunus Musah playing an hour or more in each game. “It’s summer football,” said Allegri as he shrugged off the importance of the scoreline.

Replacing Tijjani Reijnders

Reijnders was a shining light for Milan in what was a dark 2024-25 campaign. They finished eighth in the league, their worst for 11 years. The Dutchman, who moved to Manchester City earlier in the summer, managed 10 goals and four assists in the league last year. That means his contributions accounted for almost a quarter of Milan’s 61 goals, and those must be replaced.

Reijnders also made, by far, the most progressive passes and ball carries of anybody in the Milan squad. He started 36 out of 38 league games and was named Serie A’s midfielder of the season.

Of course Modric has reached heights and won trophies that Reijnders might never get close to. Who is the better player or who has had the better career is not comparable. However, right now the challenge for Modric and Milan’s new midfield is to replace Reijnders and his impressive output. It is not going to be straightforward, not even for Modric. Can he fill the gap for Milan?

Still Got It

Okay, Modric is not getting any younger and he has slowed down to the extent that Real Madrid were happy to let him go, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest he can still have a big impact at Milan.

He may not have started as many games last year as he did a few seasons ago but he actually played more minutes for Real in the 2024-25 season than he did in the previous campaign. Modric made a whopping 57 appearances for Los Blancos last campaign, before the Club World Cup, and has continued to captain Croatia in the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup. He is the Benjamin Button of Balkan football.

Last season’s appearances included 35 league games and 14 Champions League games for Madrid, and this is Real Madrid we are talking about, where in every game the stakes are high and off-field pressure never ceases. Perhaps starting 30-odd Serie A games will be a breeze for the Croatian veteran.

Modric made eight goal contributions in La Liga last season, just six fewer than Reijnders did for Milan, but Modric was only on the field for 58% of the time that Reijnders was. Maybe Modric will match Reijnders goals and assists with adequate minutes. Perhaps he could even better them, considering his set-piece artistry.

Oh, and about those progressive passes Milan need to replace. Despite starting just 17 La Liga games Modric had the second-highest number of progressive passes across the entire squad. He also had the third-most ball carries.

Modric might not make box-to-box runs like Reijnders, and he might play in a slightly different role within the team. However, he will replace him as the quality player in the middle of the park. The man that Milan can expect to dictate the game, mount attacks and provide those key forward passes at the right moments.

Critics may be quick to jump to conclusions because of Modric’s age and Milan’s 2024-25 form, but this could be a canny move by both parties, and much more than a retirement parade.

A Match Made In Heaven?

This summer, AC Milan needed new midfielders and Modric needed a new club, but there is so much more to this transfer that makes sense. The stats and facts above suggest his age is no barrier to replacing Reijnders.

Modric brings an experience to the dressing room and a tranquility to the midfield that is absolutely priceless. That calmness was on display against Chelsea.

Like De Bruyne’s move to Napoli, it also shows a desire on the side of the player to continue fighting at the top level, under the pressure of playing for a big club. There are many high-paying retirement homes with less stress but Modric is clearly hungry to continue an epic legacy in European football.

It is a great marketing move for player and club. Both are associated with grandeur, both are football royalty. They can help each other remind the world of who they are, and that they have both still got it.

Modric joins Milan not just as a squad player, but as an example and mentor for those around him. Even if he stays for just one season, his presence is sure to have an impact on the other players, and in particular his young midfield partners. They are learning from the very best in training every single day.

The fact Milan are not playing in Europe this season means that they can get the best out of Modric and do not have to worry about overloading him with games. He will probably be thinking the same, delighted that he can still give his best to Croatia during international breaks without having to play club football every three days.

This is football, and anything can happen, but Modric and Milan could be a very happy union this season.