Modric's rawest confession

At 40 years old, Luka Modric has nothing left to prove… and perhaps that’s why he’s speaking with a honesty that stings. In an intimate conversation with Slaven Bilic for the show (Ne)uspjeh prvaka, the Croatian openly admitted what many suspected: leaving Real Madrid was an emotional blow that he struggled to digest.
“After Real Madrid, wherever you go, it’s a step down,” he said without hesitation.

Although he now wears the AC Milan shirt, a historic and admirable club, Modric acknowledges the bittersweet feeling behind the move. It’s not a criticism of Milan, but a recognition that Madrid holds an irreplaceable place in both football’s elite and his own life.
“All players can confirm it,” he added.

The broken dream: Modric wanted to retire as a Madrid legend

Modric never hid it: his wish was to retire at Real Madrid. But reality, as he now admits, doesn’t always align with our dreams.
“It was all very emotional. I usually hide my feelings, but those days… they were hard,” he confessed.

Modric recalled his final moments in Valdebebas: silent farewells, unexpected hugs, looks filled with history.
“The love from the fans and the club is something that stays forever. From the beginning, I felt devotion from the supporters,” he said.

That combination of gratitude and nostalgia shaped an ending he never imagined would hurt so much.

Milan: refuge, legacy, and partial relief

While acknowledging that “everything is a step down,” Modric also recognized that Milan was the ideal destination within his new reality.
“It’s a club with a history and prestige very close to Real Madrid,” he said.

Italian football shaped him as a child, and Milan was his favorite childhood club. That’s why, even though Paris or Saudi Arabia offered money, his heart chose San Siro.

However, not even the magnitude of the Rossoneri can erase what he lived in Madrid.
For Modric, the Bernabéu wasn’t just a stadium, it was his home, his identity, the peak of his career.

The origin of a legend: his arrival in Madrid and Daniel Levy’s promise

Modric also revealed new details about his arrival to Real Madrid in 2012. Before Madrid entered the picture, Chelsea tried to sign him, and he wanted the move. But then came Tottenham president Daniel Levy with a phrase that changed everything:
“The only club I would let you join is Real Madrid.”

One year later, when Madrid finally called, Modric pushed to the limit.
“The negotiations were brutal… but I trusted his word,” he recalled.

Breaking with Tottenham and its fans was painful, but he knew this was his once-in-a-lifetime moment.

That leap, agonizing at the time, is what eventually transformed him into a Real Madrid legend.