#luka-modric

#luka-modric

Luka Modric and Nikola Vlasic are friends away from the field, but tonight they will be opponents and opposite numbers. Last January, in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Vlasic included Modric in his select pantheon of the greatest. "It's crazy: you can't even try to press him because he never lets you have the ball." An admiration that borders on reverence for the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner.

Even so, I did very well at Tottenham. They were very tough on me, and the chairman, Daniel Levy, made it crystal clear in our first meeting [that] there was absolutely no chance they would let me go. After that, I carried on as if nothing had happened. I knew it would be complicated; both clubs are in London, and there's a rivalry. I wanted to go, even though I knew it was going to be very difficult.

You can do well on a football pitch when youth pushes you and wisdom guides you, it turns out. Together, they are a paradox on four legs. Bartesaghi is twice Modric's size but half his age.

The Milan derby is a fixture steeped in history and there have been some huge names to play in it, with a new addition to the list coming. As Tuttosport (via MilanPress) report this morning, the derby will see a Ballon d'Or winner return to the pitch thanks to Luka Modric's arrival. He joined from Real Madrid in the summer on a free transfer, and he ends a drought that has lasted for over 10 years.

I love him. He's a fantastic player. He will be unbelievable, trust me. Hopefully, he will be patient. Hopefully, he'll have good people around him, agent, family, whatever. Hopefully, the coach sees his quality like everybody sees him. I'm sure that everybody sees his quality, and they'll give him that time that he needs to fit into the team. And I guarantee you, he's going to be a success.

Past their prime? Certainly. But over the hill? Hardly. Modric, at 40 years old, had started Milan's first four league games, taking more touches (329) and creating more shooting opportunities (19, per fbref.com) than any teammate. De Bruyne, at 34, was the only Napoli player with more than one goal so far this season, having struck in wins over Sassuolo and Fiorentina.

Luka Modric will turn 40 in September, having played 930 games, won seven league titles and six Champions Leagues, and claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2018.