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Luka Modric has revealed that he never thought about the idea of not staying at AC Milan, who are on the ‘same level’ as Real Madrid. Going into the summer after the collapse of 2025-26 was completed with the home loss to Cagliari, there were some doubts about whether Modric would end his time at Milan on a sad note. However, he signed a contract renewal with Milan, leading them into another new era. Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial! Though Milan will have spent around €150m once the signing of Diego Moreira is over the line, keeping the Croatian might just be the best business they could have done. He remains a guiding light for the squad with his professionalism but also his undeniable quality. Modric gave an interview to Milan TV in which he spoke about various topics, from the nasty injury in the Juventus game to the decision to pen a new contract. MilanNews relayed his words. After the injury against Juve, did you think about retiring? “I never thought it would be my last game with AC Milan. I really wanted to return to playing immediately this season. I wasn’t comfortable with the protective mask, but I didn’t feel at my best on the pitch. “But I never thought it would be my last game with AC Milan. Deep down, I knew I wanted to continue, but at the same time, I had to check other things that would allow me to do so. Now I’m here and I’m very happy to be back.” How did you feel after Cagliari? “If I had to sum it all up in one word, I’d say ‘frustration,’ because until the final part of the season, we were doing well, playing well, and getting results until March. Up until that point, we were fighting for the title. “Personally, I was disappointed not to be able to help the team like I had before my injury. It was a truly difficult time for me. We didn’t reach our goal, but I still remember many other things, like the atmosphere at the club, in the dressing room, how we behaved. “We always stayed united and we created a whole. This made me feel so respected by everyone. The most important thing of all is the results, and we didn’t reach our goal. There were many positive things, but ultimately, the disappointment remains. “In the days following Milan-Cagliari, I thought about what had happened and the reasons for this negative result, but I couldn’t think about it for too long due to my commitments with Croatia at the World Cup.” When did you decide to stay at Milan? “I’ve always stayed in touch with the people at AC Milan, and even though I was at the World Cup, I always had AC Milan on my mind. “I could have signed a one-year extension at any point during the season, even in December, but first I wanted to listen to my body and understand how I felt, how hungry I was, how passionate I was about playing again. “Milan showed how much they cared about me and the fact that I was part of this new project: it was what I needed, what I wanted to hear. I talked to my family about it and decided to stay. Every player needs the trust and love of the club, the fans, my teammates, and everyone who works on the team.” At Milan you play with players who are 20 years younger than you… “I know a lot of people talk about my age and the fact that many players are 20 years younger than me. But I don’t think about those things. On the contrary, they make me feel younger. “Playing with them makes me feel younger and encourages me to compete against them. And that pushes me to keep going. I’m very competitive, I like to fight and I want to compete.” How did your first year at Milan feel? “It was fantastic, better than I could have expected. I felt the love from day one and everywhere I was: on the street, on social media, everywhere. “When you feel so much love, the only thing you want to do is give something back to the fans and the club and give everything you have to try to represent Milan in the best possible way. The love I felt was incredible. “I played for the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid, but I feel like Milan is at the same level. Those who talk about Milan do so differently than other clubs. And when you come here, you understand why: it’s one of the top clubs in the world, the people who work there make it great, the fans. “I understood why Milan is so great. I have the feeling of having been here for so many years and this makes me give everything I have. It’s wonderful to have experienced these feelings. The fans’ love is the most important thing for me: if that’s there, it’s easy to make other decisions. “You feel like everyone wants you, that you keep playing. This is the place I want to be and it’s the reason why I’m here.” What was your goal in returning to Milan? “My mission is to give my all and help the team win as much as possible. I came back as if it were the first time and I had to win. There’s no need to talk a lot: now we have to act. Stay humble, work hard, stay united. “When you play in a club like Milan, the most normal thing is to think about wanting to win and not just qualify for the Champions League. You have to aim for the best: that’s why I’m here, that’s my goal. “Together with the club, the owners, and the coach, we share the same goal, and that’s why I decided to return.” A message for the fans? “I want to thank everyone for their support since I arrived. What I ask of the fans is to stay with us and support our project. I can promise that we will truly give everything our fans deserve: we hope they are proud of us. We need them to have a great season.”