Luka Modrić has opened up about life at AC Milan, his emotional connection with Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible longevity, José Mourinho’s return to Madrid and the players he believes can shape the club’s future.

Former Real Madrid midfield maestro Luka Modrić has made it clear that his love for the Spanish giants has not changed—even after leaving the club for AC Milan.

The Croatian veteran, who continues to play at the highest level despite being 41, also revealed the condition that would have to be met before he considers returning to Real Madrid after his playing career.

For Modrić, returning to Madrid would not simply be about having his name associated with the club.

He wants to have a real purpose.

Speaking in an extensive interview with Spanish publication AS, Modrić said Real Madrid remains his home and that he hopes to return one day—but only if he can make a meaningful contribution.

“If I return, I want to be useful, important and a key player in anything I do.”

That statement could spark plenty of debate among Real Madrid supporters, particularly in Africa, where Modrić remains one of the most admired midfielders of his generation.

Modrić: Real Madrid will always be my home

Modrić spent more than a decade at Real Madrid after joining the club in 2012.

During his extraordinary spell in Madrid, he became one of the most decorated midfielders in modern football and played a central role in one of the most successful eras in the club’s history.

But leaving the Spanish capital has not changed his feelings.

Modrić said he remains a Madridista and described his years at the Santiago Bernabéu as the best period of his professional and personal life.

“Real Madrid is my home and will always be,” he said.

The Croatian also revealed that the affection he received from Madrid supporters means more to him than many of the trophies he won.

For a player who lifted multiple Champions League titles and won the Ballon d’Or, that is a remarkable admission.

“I consider my greatest achievement, despite winning many titles, to be the love of Real Madrid’s fans,” Modrić said.

He explained that he felt the supporters’ affection from the beginning, including during the difficult period immediately after his arrival.

Over time, that relationship only became stronger.

For Modrić, the connection with the fans ultimately became more valuable than any medal.

The condition for a Real Madrid return

So, could Modrić eventually return to Real Madrid?

The midfielder clearly wants the possibility to remain open.

However, he doesn’t want a ceremonial position simply because of his legendary status.

Modrić said he would only return if he could genuinely contribute to the club.

That could mean taking up a coaching, technical, ambassadorial or other football-related role—but he wants to understand exactly what he would be doing.

“I would not return to Real Madrid just for my name, to be there without truly knowing what I am doing,” he explained.

That attitude is consistent with the mentality that has defined his career.

Modrić doesn’t want privileges because of his past achievements. He wants responsibility.

“I like to do my job well and to be useful,” he said.

For African football fans who have watched his career from the days of his Tottenham breakthrough to his Champions League battles with Real Madrid, it is another example of why Modrić has remained relevant for so long.

‘I don’t know if I’ll retire this year or next year’

At 41, Modrić is still refusing to put a definite date on his retirement.

The midfielder admitted that he knows the end of his playing career is approaching, but he is not prepared to walk away while he still feels capable of competing.

“I love what I do,” he said.

For Modrić, football isn’t simply a profession.

It is something he has lived since childhood.

He began playing at just six years old and has now spent more than three decades immersed in the sport.

“I have been doing this work for more than 30 years,” he said.

The Croatian acknowledged that professional football cannot continue forever, but insisted that age alone should not determine when a player retires.

His position will resonate with football fans across Africa, where many supporters continue to debate whether experienced stars should be allowed to play into their late 30s and early 40s.

Modrić’s answer is simple: if the body and mind are still capable, why stop?

Modrić predicts Cristiano Ronaldo can keep scoring until 50

Few players understand Cristiano Ronaldo’s mentality better than Modrić.

The pair shared the Real Madrid dressing room during one of the most dominant periods in European football.

And Modrić has nothing but admiration for Ronaldo’s extraordinary longevity.

Asked whether Ronaldo can reach the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals, Modrić backed his former teammate to do it.

He described Ronaldo as a “phenomenon” and a “ferocious beast” when discussing his mentality and goalscoring ability.

Modrić believes Ronaldo’s greatest strength is not simply his physical ability.

It is his mentality.

His hunger.

His confidence.

And his refusal to accept decline.

According to Modrić, Ronaldo could even continue playing until he is 50 and still find the back of the net.

The comment is likely to generate huge reactions across Africa, where Ronaldo has one of the largest football followings on the continent.

From Nigeria and Ghana to Kenya, South Africa and Egypt, Ronaldo’s career has been followed closely by generations of football fans.

Modrić’s assessment is therefore more than praise from a former teammate—it is another fascinating insight into the mentality of one of football’s most enduring superstars.

Modrić regrets not working longer with Mourinho

Modrić also had special praise for José Mourinho, whose influence on his career began before he had even played for Real Madrid.

According to Modrić, Mourinho was instrumental in bringing him to the Spanish capital.

The Croatian recalled Mourinho’s determination to sign him and said the Portuguese coach essentially made it clear to Madrid’s hierarchy that Modrić was the player he wanted.

That relationship left a lasting impression.

“I have a special appreciation for him because he is the one who brought me here,” Modrić said.

The midfielder also expressed regret that he only worked with Mourinho for one season.

He praised Mourinho’s preparation and his ability to make players understand exactly what was expected of them before matches.

For Modrić, Mourinho’s biggest strength was his mentality.

“He is a winner,” he said.

The Croatian also backed Mourinho to bring a different mentality to Real Madrid, describing the team as potentially “terrifying” under the Portuguese coach.

Mourinho’s return could make Real Madrid dangerous

Modrić believes Mourinho’s return represents an important decision by Real Madrid.

The Portuguese manager already understands the demands of the club, the pressure surrounding the Santiago Bernabéu and what it takes to compete for major trophies.

For Modrić, those qualities make Mourinho a strong fit.

“He knows the club well, and he is a winner,” he said.

The former Madrid midfielder believes the combination of Mourinho’s personality, tactical approach and knowledge of the club could make Real Madrid extremely difficult to play against.

That will be music to the ears of Madrid supporters—and a warning to their European rivals.

Modrić praises Bellingham, Mbappé and Vinícius

While Modrić remains closely connected to Real Madrid, he is also watching the club’s next generation.

Among the players who have impressed him most is Jude Bellingham.

Modrić admitted that Bellingham is particularly close to him because, like the Croatian, he plays in midfield.

But he sees something else in the England international: leadership potential.

“He can be a captain,” Modrić said.

The Croatian believes Bellingham has earned the respect of Madrid supporters not only through his talent but also through his work rate and commitment.

That distinction is important.

At Real Madrid, ability alone isn’t always enough.

The Bernabéu expects players to fight.

And Modrić believes Bellingham understands that.

‘Vinícius, Mbappé and Bellingham are wonderful’

Modrić also praised Real Madrid’s attacking stars.

He spoke positively about Vinícius Júnior and expressed happiness about the Brazilian’s continued commitment to the club.

He also had high praise for Kylian Mbappé, particularly his speed, movement and ability to score with apparent ease.

But Bellingham remains the player with whom Modrić feels the strongest connection.

That could explain why the veteran midfielder sees him as a potential future leader at the club.

For Madrid, having players such as Mbappé, Vinícius and Bellingham represents a continuation of the club’s long-standing strategy of assembling elite talent from different parts of the world.

Modrić opens up on the Negreira controversy

Modrić was also asked about Real Madrid’s record in the Champions League compared with La Liga during his time at the club and whether the controversy surrounding Barcelona’s Negreira case had any connection to Madrid’s league record.

The Croatian was cautious.

He said he did not follow the issue closely and did not want to go deeply into the controversy.

However, he acknowledged that the situation was “not normal”.

Modrić instead pointed to a different explanation for why Real Madrid won more Champions League titles than La Liga championships during his era.

According to him, the difference was partly psychological.

In the Champions League, there was no room for mistakes.

One poor result could eliminate a team from the competition.

La Liga, by contrast, provided more opportunities to recover lost points.

But Modrić also acknowledged the strength of Barcelona during that period.

The Catalan giants regularly maintained intense pressure at the top of the Spanish league, making it difficult for Madrid to recover whenever they dropped points.

The 2018 Ballon d’Or remains special

Modrić’s greatest individual achievement came in 2018 when he broke the dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or.

For the Croatian, the award was particularly meaningful because of where he came from.

Croatia is a small country compared with football giants such as Brazil, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Yet Modrić had reached the top of world football.

He believes players from smaller nations often have to work even harder to receive the same recognition.

Winning the Ballon d’Or after helping Real Madrid and Croatia made the achievement even more special.

But Modrić insists individual awards will always come behind the team.

That philosophy has remained one of the defining characteristics of his career.

His biggest regret? Not working longer with Mourinho

Looking back, Modrić doesn’t appear to have many regrets.

But one stands out.

He wishes he had spent more time working with Mourinho.

The Portuguese coach was the manager who pushed hardest to bring Modrić to Real Madrid, and their professional relationship left a deep impression.

Even though the two do not speak regularly, Modrić said they occasionally exchange messages.

He continues to hold Mourinho in high regard.

For Modrić, Mourinho’s role in his move to Madrid will never be forgotten.

A legendary career still has one chapter left

Modrić’s career has already secured his place among football’s greatest midfielders.

But the Croatian doesn’t appear ready to close the book just yet.

He is still playing.

He is still competing.

And, most importantly, he still enjoys football.

Whether his next chapter takes him back to Real Madrid, into coaching, into football administration or somewhere completely unexpected remains to be seen.

But his message is clear.

If he returns to Madrid, it won’t be simply to sit in the background and trade on his name.

He wants to matter.

And for a player whose entire career has been built around intelligence, discipline and an extraordinary competitive mentality, that may be the most fitting condition of all.

Modrić’s message to the next generation

There is also a broader lesson in Modrić’s story.

Football careers don’t last forever, but influence can.

The Croatian has already inspired players who grew up watching him, including midfielders such as Bellingham.

His journey—from Croatia to Tottenham, then to Real Madrid and now AC Milan—shows how far talent, discipline and persistence can take a player.

For African footballers dreaming of European football, Modrić’s career offers a powerful reminder:

Talent may open the door, but longevity, mentality and the willingness to keep improving are what keep you inside.