What the data says<\/p>\n
Modric\u2019s preparatory work before and after games is obsessive, and that is why he is able to keep going at the highest levels at an age when many are already a few years into retirement from professional football.<\/p>\n
In 2025-26 so far, the former Spurs man has played 10 of Milan\u2019s 11 games across all competitions. He has started nine games, and has played the entirety of seven matches. The result: a total of 809 minutes played, making him the sixth-most used outfield player by Allegri.<\/p>\n
![\"Luka](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/leeds-united-v-ac-milan-pre-season-friendly-8.jpg\")
Photo by Charles McQuillan\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
The aforementioned numbers are significantly higher than those from his last two seasons at Real Madrid. In 2024-25, Modric played 27 of 56 games as a starter (48%), which was down from 23 of 46 in 2023-24 (50%).<\/p>\n
Last season, however, the Croatian captain played more 90-minute games (10, compared to six the previous year). Of course Real Madrid have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to midfield talent, so they were much more able to rotate him in and out whenever suited.<\/p>\n
The first warning signs<\/p>\n
On Tuesday night at the New Balance Arena, Modric looked human for the first time. He is normally the orchestrator and the metronome for Milan, yet when the team were swept up in the first-half siege from Atalanta, he too seemed unable to stop the surge in pressure. It\u2019s hard to do it alone, admittedly, as he often has in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
The giveaway in the build-up to Ademola Lookman\u2019s equaliser was very uncharacteristic but it was an emblem of poor ball management by the entire team. When even the tidiest midfielder in recent football history (arguably) is giving the ball away in bad areas, pressure will build.<\/p>\n
Modric had a 70% pass completion rate in Atalanta\u2019s half, he completed just 1\/3 of attempted long passes and 0\/3 crosses. He lost over 50% of his ground duels, was dribbled past three times, lost possession nine times and didn\u2019t manage a shot, while his touch count was down too.<\/p>\n
![\"Luka](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ac-milan-v-us-cremonese-serie-a-29.jpg\")
Photos: Marco Luzzani\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
That being said, he also had a 92% pass completion rate generally, managed a couple of interceptions, blocked one shot and had seven recoveries. He also wasn\u2019t given much help positionally, often being left isolated on an island by Samuele Ricci and Youssouf Fofana.<\/p>\n
The alarms are not about Modric as a player \u2013 his quality is simply beyond doubt \u2013 but rather his use. At 40, it would be naive to presume he has the same battery life as everyone else, and it is at risk of being drained very early.<\/p>\n