Luka Modric lands in Italy to sign with AC Milan after 13 seasons at Real Madrid
The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner landed in Italy on Monday for a medical with Milan after saying goodbye to Real Madrid following 13 highly successful seasons in Spain. He was expected to a sign a one-year contract later, with an option for a second season.
Modric grew up supporting Milan because his idol and fellow Croat, Zvonimir Boban, played for the club in the 1990s.
Modric announced in May that he was leaving Madrid after helping the Spanish powerhouse to 28 titles: six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey and five Spanish Super Cups.
Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season and missed out on a spot in Europe.
The Italian club rehired Massimiliano Allegri as coach after the season, replacing the fired Sergio Conceicao.
Allegri won the Italian league for the first time with Milan in 2011, then guided Juventus to five straight titles from 2015 to 2019.
Allegri reportedly called former Madrid and Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti to ask about Modric's form. Then new Milan sporting director Igli Tare traveled to Croatia's training camp last month to seal the deal with Modric.
The deal was made before the Club World Cup but Modric couldn't join his new club until he finished playing for Madrid at the tournament in the United States.
Madrid was beaten 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals in Modric's final match with the club.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lang arrives ahead of Napoli medical in 25m plus add-ons transfer
Right on schedule, Noa Lang has arrived in Italy this evening and will undergo his Napoli medical tomorrow, completing the transfer from PSV Eindhoven for €25m plus add-ons. The attacking wide man just turned 26 last month and had been pushing for the move to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Noa Lang è atterrato in Italia: sarà un nuovo giocatore del @sscnapoli — Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) July 14, 2025 As confirmed by Alfredo Pedullà for Football Italia earlier this month, the deal was done for €25m plus add-ons and a 10 per cent cut of the future sale fee. Advertisement Lang deal never in doubt for Napoli EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS – MARCH 04: Noa Lang of PSV Eindhoven shoots during the warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between PSV and Arsenal FC at PSV Stadion on March 04, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by) There were some minor delays caused by the issue of image rights between a company representing the player and his agents, but that was resolved. The Dutch international has 14 senior caps for the Netherlands and came up through the Ajax youth academy. Following loans at FC Twente and Club Brugge, Lang was sold to the Belgians for €6m, then moved on to PSV Eindhoven for €12.5m in the summer of 2023. He represents one of several big investments for Antonio Conte's side, who won the Serie A title last season, as Sam Beukema is also set to complete his move from Bologna later this week.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Newcastle submit bid for Chelsea & Liverpool target Hugo Ekitike
Newcastle United have submitted a bid worth more than €70 million for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike (h/t journalist Fabrizio Romano). The Magpies have been looking for a versatile attacker to add to their squad, and their radar has turned to Ekitike. Advertisement Ekitike can lead the line as a number nine or play off the main striker. The Frenchman is also capable of playing on the left flank. He is a versatile attacking solution for the Magpies. Newcastle initially wanted to sign Joao Pedro, but he chose to move to Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion. Ekitike has bounced back from a horrid spell with Paris Saint-Germain, bagging 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances for Frankfurt this season. Newcastle need additional firepower after Callum Wilson exited the club this summer upon the expiry of his contract, and Ekitike is a stellar candidate to fill the void. Advertisement The Magpies have been linked with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ollie Watkins, but have made a concrete move for the Frankfurt striker. However, Frankfurt are notoriously difficult to negotiate with, making life difficult for clubs that come for their players. Die Adler made PSG work hard to sign Randal Kolo Muani for around €90m and demanded €75m from Manchester City for Omar Marmoush. Frankfurt were reportedly demanding €100m for Ekitike, but will likely have to settle for less. Very few clubs can pay that sum for the striker. Chelsea and Liverpool showed interest in securing his services, but Newcastle could win the race to sign him.
Washington Post
44 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Real Madrid signs young left back Álvaro Carreras from Benfica on a 6-year deal
MADRID — Real Madrid reached a deal to sign Álvaro Carreras from Benfica on Monday, bringing back the young left back who came through the Spanish club's youth squads. Madrid said the 22-year-old Carreras is arriving on a six-year contract. Financial details of the transfer were not immediately released. Carreras played in Madrid's youth academy from 2017-20. The Spaniard joined Benfica from Manchester United after being named the English club's best under-23 player of the 2021-22 season. He won this year's Portuguese League Cup with Benfica.
