Luka Modric hints at Real Madrid return as he backs Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo

Luka Modric says he would like to return to Real Madrid after his playing career, but only if he can make a meaningful contribution to the club where he spent the best years of his professional and personal life.

The Croatia midfielder, now with Milan, remains a supporter of Real Madrid and described it as “the greatest team in history” in an extended interview with Spanish newspaper AS.

Modric, who joined Milan after leaving Real Madrid, said he was enjoying life in Italy and had received a warm welcome from the club and its supporters.

“I feel good. I am very happy with my life in Milan. From the first day, I received a warm welcome from the club and the fans, and that makes me happy. The city is beautiful and different from Madrid, but I like it too. I am enjoying my time here and I am happy,” he said.

He also spoke warmly about Milan, calling it one of football’s great clubs and the second-most successful side in European competition behind Real Madrid. Although Milan have not won the European title for some time, Modric said they remain a historic club and need only to rediscover the level they showed during the 1990s, the 2000s and beyond.

Modric explained that Milan had been his boyhood team because of his early interest in Italian football.

“I grew up watching a lot of Italian football because Italy is close to Croatia. I followed it passionately. At that time it was perhaps the strongest league in the world, as the Premier League is now, and it had extraordinary players,” he said.

“Milan were my favourite team when I was young, the team I admired. In the end, I never expected my path to lead me here, but life keeps surprises for us, and here I am.”

The 41-year-old said he had no immediate plans to retire while he remained physically and mentally capable of playing at the required level.

“There seems to be a common idea that when you reach a certain age, it is better to retire and step aside, but I do not see it that way as long as I feel good,” Modric said. “This is my life. I love what I do; I really love football, and I am happy and enjoying it.”

He added that he had been involved in football for more than 30 years, having started at the age of six, but accepted that his career could not continue indefinitely.

“For me, this is not a job; it is something I love. When you do something you love, you do not consider it work. It is something I enjoy every day, and as long as I feel good and believe I can do what is required of me, I want to continue,” he said.

“How long will it last? I know the end is getting closer, but I do not know whether it will be this year or next year.”

Ronaldo, Mourinho and a possible return

Modric backed former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo to reach 1,000 career goals, describing the Portugal forward as “a phenomenon” and “a goal-scoring beast”.

“No, no. Cristiano is an incredible player; he is a phenomenon, a beast, and I have no doubt he will reach that number,” Modric said. “Everything he has done, everything he continues to do, the way he competes and gives his maximum in every match is admirable.”

Modric said his affection for Ronaldo was connected to what they achieved together at Real Madrid. He believes Ronaldo has at least another year to reach the landmark and could continue scoring even if he plays until the age of 50.

“I do not know how long he will want to continue playing, but he will keep scoring goals even if he wants to continue until he is 50,” he said. “His talent for scoring goals is incredible and, above all that, his character, his belief and his confidence in himself are unbelievable.”

Modric also recalled Croatia’s frustrating World Cup exit against Portugal, saying his team had been the better side, particularly in the second half, and could have settled the match earlier.

“It was a very disappointing defeat. I think we played a great match and were the better team than Portugal, especially in the second half, and we could have decided the game earlier,” he said.

On technology, Modric said it could help football but was sometimes used inconsistently. He felt the defeat had involved more than the final goal, also pointing to a penalty decision.

Asked whether he might play against Spain on 26 September, Modric said he first needed to speak to the Croatian Football Federation and the new coach. He said he had an excellent relationship with the manager, having begun his international career under him at under-21 level.

Modric said Zlatko Kranjcar had first called him into the senior Croatia squad, before Slaven Bilic took charge after the World Cup. He added that he and Bilic spent six years together and achieved a great deal.

Modric also welcomed Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid, saying the club already looked different and “frightening” after its opening matches.

“I think appointing Mourinho was a very wise decision by the club. He is the ideal choice for this position, considering the team and everything,” he said.

Mourinho, Modric added, understood Real Madrid, was a winner and had played a decisive part in bringing him to the club.

“He said to the club: ‘I want him or nobody else.’ That is why I have so much affection and respect for him,” Modric said. “My only regret is that I did not work with him for longer.”

Modric spent one year working with Mourinho and said he learned how to prepare properly, fight and give everything in matches. He praised the manager’s preparation and said players went into games knowing exactly what to expect.

“I think he is the ideal choice and will bring a lot of happiness to Real Madrid supporters. Real Madrid will be a very dangerous team in every competition,” he said.

Modric said Mourinho remained special to him because of his efforts to sign him, adding: “I would do anything for him.” The pair do not speak often but exchange messages occasionally, and Modric wished him continued success.

“He is at the right place because he is at the best club in the world, and he is one of the best coaches in history,” Modric said. “This partnership is excellent and will certainly worry other teams.”

Real Madrid legacy and the Negreira case

Modric said the greatest achievement of his Real Madrid career was not one of the many trophies he won, but the affection of the club’s supporters.

“It is difficult to find the right words to express my gratitude for that great love,” he said. “I felt it from the first day, even during the somewhat difficult period when I arrived. I felt the love of the people in the stands and in the streets, and that love grew stronger over time. For me, this is more important than any trophy.”

Asked why he had won more Champions League titles than La Liga titles during his Real Madrid career, and whether that was linked to the Negreira case, Modric said the situation was unusual but that he did not want to discuss it at length.

He suggested the team had approached the two competitions differently. In the league, players sometimes believed they had time to recover from dropped points, whereas in the Champions League they knew one mistake could mean elimination.

“That is why we did what we did in the Champions League: we knew failure meant going out,” he said. “In La Liga, we always thought we could make up the points, but Barcelona were very strong and would not allow us to do that.”

Modric said the situation was “not normal”, although he believed Real Madrid’s players also had some responsibility because they had not won more league titles.

He also reflected on winning the 2018 Ballon d’Or, breaking the dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

“It is incredible. It is the greatest individual prize of all; there is nothing greater,” Modric said. “Winning it in an era with exceptional players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as other great players who competed for it every year like Neymar and Karim Benzema, was a wonderful feeling.”

He said the achievement meant even more because he came from a small country, where players often had to work harder than those representing major football nations such as Spain, Italy, Germany and France. However, he insisted team success remained more important than individual recognition.

Modric declined to predict this year’s winner, saying voters would decide and that there were many candidates from Real Madrid and other clubs.

He praised Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, saying he was particularly pleased that Vinicius had renewed his contract with Real Madrid because of everything he contributes.

“Mbappe is incredible: the ease with which he scores, his speed and his agility are amazing,” Modric said. “But the one closest to me is Jude, because he is a midfielder like me.”

The Croatian believes Bellingham has the qualities to become a leader. He said the Santiago Bernabeu crowd appreciated not only the England midfielder’s ability but also his commitment and work ethic, adding that his World Cup performances and start to the current season had been remarkable.

On a future return to Real Madrid, Modric said the club would always be his home.

“I hope it happens. Real Madrid is my home and it always will be. I will always be a Madridista because of what I experienced there,” he said.

“Those were the best years of my professional and personal life. I hope to return one day, but we will see in what role. I am someone who likes to do his job properly and be useful. I will not return to Real Madrid just because of my name, to be there without really knowing what I am doing. I cannot do that. If I return, I want to be useful, important and a key figure in whatever I do.”