Luka Modric’s Football Intelligence Puts Him Ahead of Everyone Else
Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has praised his compatriot, AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric, saying the Croatian’s intelligence puts him a step ahead of everyone else. Rakitic also attributes Modric’s longevity to his unique lifestyle, noting that he approaches football differently from most players and genuinely enjoys the game as he tipped the Rossoneri to challenge for the Serie A title.

Luka Modric’s Football Intelligence Puts Him Ahead of Everyone Else

Ex-Barcelona Midfielder Ivan Rakitic Says Former Real Madrid Rival Is “Having a Great Time” at AC Milan

Even after two decades at the highest level, Luka Modric continues to defy both time and expectation. The Croatian maestro, now dazzling the San Siro with the red and black of AC Milan, seems untouched by age — and according to his former international teammate Ivan Rakitic, that’s no accident.

Rakitic, who shared a midfield with Modric for Croatia during their golden years, insists that his compatriot’s success is rooted not just in physical conditioning or technical mastery, but in something deeper: football intelligence.

“He’s totally different from everyone else,” Rakitic told Gazzetta dello Sport. “He enjoys football in a way that few players do. His understanding of the game, his timing, the way he reads situations — it all puts him a step ahead. He’s living a new adventure at Milan, and he’s having a great time.”

The Eternal Maestro: Modric’s Seamless Transition to Milan

When Luka Modric bid farewell to Real Madrid last summer, many assumed the curtain was gently closing on one of football’s most elegant careers. After 12 years, five Champions League titles, and a Ballon d’Or, what else could there be to prove?

As it turns out — quite a lot.

His move to AC Milan was seen as sentimental at first, a swan song in one of Europe’s great footballing cities. Yet in typical Modric fashion, he has turned that narrative on its head.

In just a handful of months, the 39-year-old has redefined Milan’s midfield, bringing a sense of calm authority and rhythm that recalls his early years at the Bernabéu. Against Bologna, he made Serie A history — becoming the oldest midfielder ever to score in the competition when he delivered the match-winning strike in a 1-0 victory.

His performances have not only won him praise from teammates and fans but also from footballing figures across Italy.

Massimiliano Allegri, Milan’s head coach, was effusive in his assessment: “He’s always one step ahead — mentally and tactically. You can’t teach what Modric does; he sees the game before it happens.”

Milan legend Demetrio Albertini went even further, comparing him to Andrea Pirlo: “Luka gives structure and poetry to Milan’s football. Like Pirlo, he doesn’t just control the game — he elevates everyone around him.”

Rakitic’s Admiration and Modric’s Secret to Longevity

Leao Modric Milan

Leao Modric Milan

It’s one thing to admire Modric from afar; it’s another to know him personally. Few people understand the Croatian captain better than Ivan Rakitic, who spent nearly a decade alongside him in the national setup.

The two remain close, often exchanging messages even as their careers have taken different paths — Rakitic now playing in Saudi Arabia, while Modric writes yet another European chapter.

“We spoke yesterday,” Rakitic revealed. “He invited me to Milan. He told me Italian football is very different from Spain — slower, more tactical — but he’s loving it. He’s happy with his teammates, and his family is enjoying the new experience. He has [director] Igli Tare to thank — he was the one who brought him there.”

Rakitic went on to highlight the discipline and joy that keep Modric performing at such a high level.

“Luka is unique in the way he lives football. He has a personal trainer he works with daily. But the real secret is his mind — his footballing intelligence. That’s what makes him timeless. He’s actually playing better now than he was a few years ago.”

That assessment might sound exaggerated — until you watch Modric play.

A Mind Ahead of Its Time

To watch Luka Modric in 2025 is to watch football stripped down to its essence. His pace has slowed, yes, but his mind moves at double speed.

Every touch, every glance, every shift of body weight seems deliberate. He dictates matches not through bursts of athleticism but through orchestration — a conductor guiding the rhythm of an entire team.

In the tactical landscape of Serie A, where structure and shape often dominate creativity, Modric has become Milan’s free thinker.

His passing remains crisp, his first touch velvet-smooth, but it’s the way he sees football that continues to astonish. Teammates describe him as “quiet but commanding.” One Milan insider reportedly told La Repubblica, “When Luka speaks in training, everyone listens — even Allegri.”

It’s that cerebral approach — honed through years of elite football and unrelenting curiosity — that makes him not just effective, but transformative.

Modric and Allegri: The Perfect Partnership

It helps that Massimiliano Allegri understands exactly how to use him.

Allegri has always favored structure, discipline, and compactness — qualities that suit Serie A’s strategic nature. But Modric brings the touch of unpredictability, the spark of inspiration that turns a solid team into a special one.

At Milan, Allegri has built a side capable of defending deep, pressing intelligently, and breaking lines with pace. Yet in tight matches — those typical Italian chess games — Modric is the difference-maker.

His presence in midfield has also rejuvenated players around him. Youngsters like Yunus Musah and Tijjani Reijnders are learning directly from one of the greatest midfielders in history. The balance between youth and experience feels deliberate — and it’s paying off.

After drawing with Napoli and defeating Juventus, Milan sit firmly in the Scudetto race, and Modric’s fingerprints are all over it.

Rakitic Backs Milan for the Scudetto

FBL-ITA-SERIE A-JUVENTUS-AC MILAN

FBL-ITA-SERIE A-JUVENTUS-AC MILAN

When asked about AC Milan’s title chances, Rakitic didn’t hesitate.

“With Allegri and Modric, anything is possible,” he said. “They have the mentality to go all the way. The key in Serie A is timing — being at your best in March and April, not November. That’s when experience counts, and nobody has more of it than Luka.”

It’s hard to argue with that logic.

Modric’s mentality, forged in Champions League finals and World Cup battles, provides Milan with an intangible edge. He’s not just playing football — he’s shaping the team’s psychology.

And for all the tactical nuance in Italian football, that winning mentality might be the most valuable trait of all.

The Rossoneri’s Next Challenge

Milan’s next test comes on October 19, when they face Fiorentina — a match that could further define their title ambitions.

It’s expected that Modric will once again start in the heart of midfield, tasked with controlling the tempo and finding gaps against a side that loves to press high. Allegri will count on his veteran to bring balance and creativity, just as he did in the narrow win over Bologna.

If recent performances are any indication, Modric will do more than just contribute — he’ll lead.

The Croatian’s ability to turn pressure into poise, chaos into control, has become Milan’s greatest asset.

A Career That Defies Time

What makes Luka Modric remarkable isn’t just longevity — it’s evolution.

From his early days at Dinamo Zagreb, to his rise at Tottenham, to his dominance at Real Madrid, Modric has never stopped adapting. He’s gone from being a box-to-box engine to a deep-lying playmaker, from the heartbeat of Croatia’s golden generation to the guiding light of a new Milan.

Even at 39, he doesn’t play like a man approaching the twilight of his career. If anything, he’s aging in reverse — his legs moving less, but his mind moving faster.

There’s a grace and humility about him too. He still runs harder than players a decade younger, still celebrates goals like a child, still approaches every training session with the same enthusiasm he had at 20.

And perhaps that’s the secret Rakitic was hinting at all along: Modric doesn’t just play football — he lives it.

Conclusion: The Game’s Thinking Man Still Reigns

Luka Modric’s story has always been about defying assumptions. Too small, too old, too gentle for the modern game — and yet, here he is, still dominating midfields in one of Europe’s toughest leagues.

His intelligence, humility, and joy for the game have made him not only one of the greatest midfielders ever but also one of its last true romantics.

And as Ivan Rakitic watches his old friend thriving in Milan, he’s not surprised. “He’s better than ever,” Rakitic said. “And the best part? He’s still enjoying every second.”

At 39, Luka Modric isn’t just keeping up with the game — he’s still teaching it.

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