Luka Modric has said he never thought about walking away from Milan, describing the club as being on the "same level" as Real Madrid after signing a contract extension this summer.
The renewal closes a chapter that could easily have ended sourly. Milan's 2025-26 fell apart in the closing weeks, with a home defeat to Cagliari confirming a season that had promised more, and Modric spent part of it sidelined after a nasty injury against Juventus. Keeping the 40-year-old, alongside outlay of around €150m once Diego Moreira's signing is completed, stands out as one of the summer's more assured pieces of business.
Speaking to Milan TV in comments relayed by MilanNews, the Croatian addressed both the injury and the renewal. He insisted the Juventus match never felt like a farewell. "I never thought it would be my last game with AC Milan," he said. "Deep down, I knew I wanted to continue, but at the same time, I had to check other things that would allow me to do so. Now I'm here and I'm very happy to be back."
On the collapse itself, Modric reached for a single word. "If I had to sum it all up in one word, I'd say 'frustration,' because until the final part of the season, we were doing well, playing well, and getting results until March. Up until that point, we were fighting for the title." He admitted the disappointment of not being able to influence matters after his injury, though he pointed to the unity in the dressing room as something he would remember.
The decision to stay came late, and by his own admission it hinged on his body. "I could have signed a one-year extension at any point during the season, even in December, but first I wanted to listen to my body and understand how I felt, how hungry I was, how passionate I was about playing again," he explained. The club's insistence that he was part of the new project settled it: "Milan showed how much they cared about me and the fact that I was part of this new project: it was what I needed, what I wanted to hear."
Surrounded by teammates two decades his junior, Modric said the age gap works in his favour rather than against it. "Playing with them makes me feel younger and encourages me to compete against them. And that pushes me to keep going. I'm very competitive, I like to fight and I want to compete."
His assessment of his debut campaign came with high praise for the club he joined from Real Madrid. "I played for the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid, but I feel like Milan is at the same level," he said. "It's one of the top clubs in the world, the people who work there make it great, the fans. I understood why Milan is so great." He was clear about his reasoning for staying: "This is the place I want to be and it's the reason why I'm here."
As for the target, Modric set it above mere Champions League qualification. "When you play in a club like Milan, the most normal thing is to think about wanting to win and not just qualify for the Champions League. You have to aim for the best." He closed with a message to supporters, asking them to back the project and promising the squad would give what the fanbase deserves.
For a squad rebuilding after a season that unravelled, keeping a player who talks in those terms may matter as much as anything the €150m brings in.