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New Milan midfielder, Luka Modric, spoke to DAZN about his choice to join the Rossoneri.

Luka Modric has been a new midfielder for Milan under Massimiliano Allegri for a few weeks now. The Croatian player gave a lengthy interview to DAZN, focusing on his desire to win new trophies, which is why he chose the Rossoneri.

Milan, Modric’s Words

Desire for trophies?

“This is the reason why I seek new challenges. This is why I want to continue playing and competing at a high level. It’s for the love of football, I still have passion and motivation for what I do. Maybe I could have made an easier choice, could have gone to less competitive leagues, but it wouldn’t be like me. It’s not my way. When I play football, I want to do it at the highest possible level. When I’m no longer able, I’ll stop, but, as I said, I feel very good, I love this game, I have passion and motivation, and these are the reasons why I’m here.”

What do you want to bring to this group?

“I want to bring… I want to do what I’ve always done in my career. Play my football, lend a hand when needed, bring experience, a winning mentality, and be helpful to my teammates and everyone, in every aspect and when needed.”

Why did you choose Milan?

“The main reason I chose Milan is the greatness of the Club: it’s one of the best teams in the world. This photo (of him wearing a Milan tracksuit as a child with his parents, editor’s note) is a nice memory, it shows how popular Milan was at the time, especially in Croatia. I grew up watching your league, and Milan was my favorite team as a kid, especially because of Zvonimir Boban who played here: he was my childhood idol.

These are the reasons why I chose Milan. And that photo is a great memory. The first time I came here to sign the contract, I immediately felt that this club is special. You can feel the aura of greatness that the club has: it has won 7 Champions Leagues, second only to Real Madrid. That says a lot. Everything here is at a very high level: the people working for the club, the fans, the stadium…”

About Carlo Ancelotti, whom he consulted before moving to Milan:

“I talked to Ancelotti before signing with the Rossoneri, and he only said very nice things about Milan. Obviously, I already knew them: but when someone like Carlo, who has been a player and a coach here, tells you, you have an even clearer perception of the club and the environment. We talked about it. Even in our previous conversations before my signature, we talked about Milan and he told me beautiful things.”

You are the thirteenth Ballon d’Or winner to wear the Milan shirt… You are on the list with van Basten, Gullit, Ronaldo, Baggio, Shevchenko, Kaká. Among all these names, do you consider yourself a legend of this sport?

“It’s a nice list to be honest (laughs). I prefer others to speak and say if I am a legend or not. What I can say is that I am really proud of what I have achieved in football. Perhaps I have achieved even more than I expected. And that’s why I am happy. It’s not up to me to say whether I am a legend or not, I prefer others to talk about me. But again, I am very proud and happy with everything I have achieved in my career.”

“Milan cannot settle for mediocrity and must compete with the strongest teams in Europe”. So, what is the goal of this new adventure, for Luka Modric and for Milan?

“Yes, it was very important that the sports director came to Croatia to present me with Milan’s project. It shows how much they care about me, how much they respect me. And it was essential for me to take this step and sign for Milan. Our goal? Milan didn’t have the best season last year, they finished eighth. Obviously, we must aim high to return to the Champions League, it’s the minimum goal. As for me, I came here after winning many trophies at Real Madrid: I am a person who always wants to win, even in training. And that’s why I hope to win trophies with Milan as well: that’s my goal and I will give everything. We need to create a good atmosphere, have a strong group, and everything will be easier.”

You were the number 10 at Real Madrid for many years. At Milan, the number 10 is on Rafael Leao’s back. Do you consider him a player who is at the top of European football?

“Absolutely. For me, he is a world-class player. And Milan is happy to have players of this caliber. I played against him several times, both at club and national team level, and you immediately understand what kind of player he is. For me, without a doubt, he is a world-class player.”

When you were younger, you chose the number 14 for Johan Cruyff? Did you know that Cruyff played with the number 14 in a friendly match with Milan? It was probably destiny…

“My first number was 14, then I kept it at Tottenham and did well there. That’s why, being free, I wanted to choose it again. Cruyff is the symbol of this number, the player who gave importance to the 14 and made it special. It’s a pleasure to wear it.”

You won your first trophy, as a child, in Alzano Lombardo. And when you played against Atalanta, you exchanged your shirt with the boys from Immacolata, the team that organized that tournament. Can you tell us more about this episode?

“When I started my career as a young player in Zadar, we often traveled to participate in tournaments in Italy. We went to Genoa, Senigallia, and also to Alzano. We won the trophy, I was awarded as the best player, and I have beautiful memories of that tournament. The last time we played in Bergamo, they came with the Immacolata shirt and I gave them mine. It was nice to remember that moment because that tournament has a special meaning for me.”

What do you think of Italian football? How exciting will it be to play the Milan derby against Inter?

“I have played many times against Italian teams and you can immediately see the quality they have. How organized and competitive they are. So it will be a nice challenge to adapt as quickly as possible, understand what the coach wants from me, where he wants me to play, and do what I have always done. I have seen many Milan derbies, I can’t wait to play the derby, these are the most beautiful challenges to experience on the field.

I often watched the matches between Milan and Inter, I really like playing this type of match, and I can’t wait to do it in the Rossoneri shirt. Will I face my compatriot Sucic? Yes, we will see each other on the field. He has a great future ahead of him. He has already shown that he is an excellent player, very talented, he has done very well both with the national team and with Dinamo Zagreb. Now I wish him all the best. But not against us!”

What is the secret of your football longevity?

“Everyone asks the same question, but the reality is that there are no secrets. For me, it’s simply the love for the game, the passion I still have. And then, of course, there are important things like nutrition, training… I live for football, 24 hours a day. And maybe that’s why I manage to be competitive at these levels. I still have football dreams, and that’s why I came here, to Milan. It’s a childhood dream, but as I’ve always said, I’m here to win trophies with Milan. That’s my dream. But family is part of all this, and it’s the most important thing. My focus is always on them. Even though I live for football and enjoy it, the family is at the center of my daily focus.”