ADRIEN RABIOT HAILS LUKA MODRIC AS MILAN’S ULTIMATE DRIVING FORCE
AC Milan's Adrien Rabiot hails teammate Luka Modrić as "a true example for everyone." The 40-year-old Croatian has been instrumental in Milan's strong start, making them early Serie A title contenders after a major midfield overhaul.
Luka Modric's AC Milan midfield teammate Adrien Rabiot has praised him as "an inspiration" and "a true example for everyone." With the Rossoneri emerging as early candidates to win Serie A this season, the Croatian midfielder, who came as a free agent after spending 13 years at Real Madrid, has enjoyed an incredible start to life at the San Siro.
Rabiot and Modric finish Milan's midfield makeover.
Following a terrible 2024–25 season in which Milan finished in ninth place and had two managers change, the team restructured its midfield and brought back Massimiliano Allegri, who had been absent for 11 years. In fact, the Rossoneri signed Madrid great Modric for free in addition to acquiring Ardon Jashari and Samuele Ricci. Following his dispute at Marseille, Rabiot also made a comeback to Serie A.
Even at forty, Modric continues to work his magic at Milan.
One of the best midfielders of all time, Modric stands out from other top players due to his unmatched durability. Being a six-time Champions League champion with Real Madrid, Modric is one of the first names on the squad sheet and appears to be getting along well with his Milan teammates. Modric turned 40 in September. In the first two months of the season, the midfield wizard has been one of Serie A's greatest players. His game-winning efforts have made Allegri's team one of the early favourites to win the Scudetto at the end of the season.
Rabiot talks about what it is like to play alongside Modric.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Rabiot lavished Modric with admiration. The former Juventus player stated, "I am not shocked by his passion and professionalism; he would not be at this level at his age. " You cannot take what he does for granted at forty, which is why I am startled. He never stops giving it his all during practices and games. A real model for all.
"He is an inspiration, but it also depends on several factors, including his ailments and body. Modric is undoubtedly very passionate. And the motivation behind everything is passion. After that, he is content to keep playing and working out hard.
Is Milan going to win Serie A this year?
Allegri's team is now two points behind reigning champions Napoli and Roma in third place on the table after 13 points from their first six games. Rabiot is certain that his new team can win this season. "There are a lot of teams, as usual. It is a little unexpected to see Roma so high up," he said.
"Napoli is still the most powerful. The Italian team that has performed the best in Europe thus far is Inter, and they have an edge over us in that they have played together for a long time. We will not necessarily develop the ideal dynamic straight away. Juventus still lacks the chemistry necessary to win the Scudetto; they are not as good as Napoli or Inter. They will compete for a Champions League berth.
We will fight to the very end, and I hope to win the Scudetto again because, because of COVID, we were not able to fully celebrate our victory over Juventus. I want to rejoice with all of the fans in the square this time."
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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