Revealed: When 40-Year-Old Luka Modrić Will Make a Decision on AC Milan Contract Extension as Rossoneri Also Sweat on USMNT Star Christian Pulisic

Revealed: When 40-Year-Old Luka Modrić Will Decide on AC Milan Contract Extension While Rossoneri Wait on Christian Pulisic

There is something poetic about seeing Luka Modrić still dictating the tempo of matches at 40 years of age. It feels almost defiant — a quiet rebellion against time itself. But while the Croatian maestro continues to glide across Serie A pitches, a far more practical question looms over San Siro: how much longer will he stay?

AC Milan are ready to activate a 12-month extension option in Modrić’s contract. The framework is there. The paperwork could be simple. But the decision, as things stand, will not come until the end of the season.

And he is not alone in keeping Milan waiting.

Christian Pulisic, the Rossoneri’s talismanic USMNT star, is also delaying a commitment to fresh terms. For a club eager to stabilise its long-term core, it is a delicate moment.

AC Milan Speaking with Senior Stars About Long-Term Futures

Milan’s hierarchy have been busy behind the scenes. The strategy is clear: secure key players early, create continuity, and send a signal that the Rossoneri are building for sustained success.

Mike Maignan has already committed his immediate future. The French goalkeeper, one of the most reliable performers in Serie A, agreed terms that underline his importance to the project.

Fikayo Tomori is expected to follow. The England defender remains central to Milan’s back line, and although his current deal runs until 2027, the club are keen to reinforce stability.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has also been presented with an offer to extend his stay in Italy. The former Chelsea midfielder has found rhythm and responsibility in Milan’s system.

But the two names that dominate the conversation are Luka Modrić and Christian Pulisic.

Will Luka Modrić Agree to an AC Milan Contract Extension?

Luka Modric AC Milan 2025-26

Modrić arrived in the summer of 2025, ending a remarkable 13-year chapter at Real Madrid. At 40, many expected him to ease into a quieter footballing twilight.

Instead, he has remained influential — measured in possession, intelligent in positioning, and still capable of those sweeping cross-field passes that leave teammates applauding.

His contract includes a one-year extension option. Milan are prepared to trigger it. But according to reports in Italy, Modrić intends to make his decision only after the current campaign concludes.

The reasoning is simple.

He wants to assess his physical condition. His motivation. His hunger.

At this stage of a career that has already delivered a Ballon d’Or and multiple Champions League titles, decisions are not driven purely by contracts. They are driven by internal conviction.

Christopher Nkunku, his teammate, recently marvelled at Modrić’s longevity.

“Luka is unbelievable,” Nkunku said. “He has a unique talent and delivers exceptional cross-field passes. If I tried that, I’d probably dislocate my hip. It’s amazing that he’s 40, but he could play until he’s 45 or even 46.”

There was laughter in the comment, but also admiration.

Milan would happily accept another year — perhaps more — of his guidance.

Following a Familiar Path Beyond 40

Modrić is not the first former Real Madrid icon to extend his playing days well into his forties. Cristiano Ronaldo has set the template for elite longevity.

Yet Modrić’s case is different. His game is not built on raw pace or explosive physicality. It is built on anticipation, balance, vision. Those qualities age differently.

Still, Serie A is unforgiving. The schedule is relentless. And Modrić understands better than anyone that legacy can be preserved or eroded in its final chapters.

When he left Madrid, he spoke candidly about the difficulty of the decision.

“I spent almost half my life there. I arrived at 27 and left at almost 40. At a club that doesn’t tolerate mediocrity, staying that long is incredible.”

He chose Milan because of its history — its weight. The parallels with Madrid appealed to him.

“You feel at every step that Milan is a historic giant,” he said.

That respect runs both ways. Milan see him not just as a player, but as a cultural reference point.

Why Christian Pulisic Has Yet to Sign a New AC Milan Contract

If Modrić’s situation is about longevity, Pulisic’s is about trajectory.

The American forward joined Milan in 2023 after departing Chelsea. Since then, he has arguably produced the most consistent stretch of his European career.

Seventeen goals last season. Double figures again this term. A leader in transition. A symbol of Milan’s attacking identity.

Contract talks opened last year. Progress has been made. But no signature has followed.

Part of the hesitation stems from context.

Milan failed to qualify for European competition for the 2025-26 campaign. For a player entering his prime at 27, continental football matters. It shapes visibility, ambition, and competitive rhythm.

Pulisic reportedly placed discussions on hold, preferring to evaluate the direction of the club before committing long-term.

Reading Between the Lines

Brad Friedel, the former USMNT goalkeeper, offered a perspective grounded in experience.

“There are only two reasons for not signing,” Friedel explained. “One, you are not happy with the contract. Two, you are keeping your options open.”

He added that when he felt genuinely happy at a club, he signed early and secured multiple years.

The implication is clear: hesitation suggests calculation.

That does not necessarily mean departure is imminent. It may reflect prudence. Pulisic could be waiting for sporting assurances — investment, ambition, trajectory.

But uncertainty invites speculation.

Christian Pulisic AC Milan 2025-26

Premier League Heavyweights Watching

Unsurprisingly, Premier League interest has been rumoured.

Manchester United. Liverpool. Tottenham.

Each has reportedly monitored the situation, intrigued by Pulisic’s resurgence in Italy.

A return to England would offer familiarity, commercial visibility, and perhaps renewed competitive challenge.

For Milan, the prospect of losing their American talisman would be a blow — not only on the pitch but commercially, given his global profile.

Parallel Decisions, Different Realities

Modrić and Pulisic find themselves in different stages of career evolution, yet their decisions intersect at a critical moment for Milan.

One is contemplating the final chapters. The other is evaluating his prime.

For Milan’s leadership, securing both would symbolise balance: experience and dynamism, heritage and ambition.

Losing either would force recalibration.

The Broader Context at San Siro

AC Milan are navigating a transitional period. Financial prudence meets competitive expectation. The club’s identity demands relevance in Europe.

Locking down senior figures sends a message of stability. Failing to do so risks reopening old vulnerabilities.

Modrić’s calm authority in midfield has been invaluable. Pulisic’s productivity in the final third equally so.

The Rossoneri hierarchy are confident, but patience is required.

When Will Luka Modrić Decide?

The timeline is now clear.

Modrić will wait until the end of the season to make a final decision on his AC Milan contract extension. His choice will depend on how he feels — physically and mentally.

There will be no rushed announcement. No premature celebration.

As for Christian Pulisic, discussions remain ongoing. His delay does not yet signal departure, but it does underline ambition.

For Milan supporters, the waiting game continues.

In football, contracts are more than paperwork. They are declarations of intent.

And in the coming months, Luka Modrić and Christian Pulisic will each make a decision that shapes not only their futures — but Milan’s as well.