Overview
- Milan announced in July 2026 that Luka Modrić signed a one-year extension that keeps the 40-year-old at the club through June 2027.
- Modrić said he deliberately delayed agreeing terms to "listen to my body," using the December–July period to assess his fitness and ongoing motivation to play.
- He blamed a fractured cheekbone for missing the decisive late-season run-in and pointed to a psychological drop after the Lazio match as the key reason Milan tumbled to fifth and missed Champions League qualification.
- Modrić said the club’s trust and the fans’ affection were decisive in his decision to stay and that he remains driven to win trophies rather than to avoid retiring on a low note.
- Milan plans to manage his minutes to protect his fitness and use his leadership to ease younger midfielders into bigger roles, a strategy that affects the club’s short-term trophy push and its effort to regain Champions League revenue.