The warm welcome at San Siro already seems far away. Since his triumphant arrival in July, Luka Modric has sailed in a climate of Milanese euphoria. His first steps in red and black, his perfect Italian, the ovation of the tifosi … Everything seemed perfect for the 39 -year -old Croatian. But Italian football still catches up with its residents.
Modric in the crosshairs of a legend
Paolo Di Canio has just broken this honeymoon. The old glory of Lazio did not go there by four paths in La Gazzetta dello Sport. For him, the arrival of Modric is part of a disturbing trend: “Italian football, from Ronaldo to Ribéry, brings people to twilight. »» The ex-attacker goes further, qualifying the series A of “Noble elephant cemetery”.
An outing that hits the bull's eye. Di Canio points to this habit of Italian clubs to recover stars at the end of their careers, ignored by the rest of Europe. “I don't want to be destructive, but no one looked for them in Europe. Not even third or fourth order forces. »» The message is clear: Milan recovers the crumbs from others.
Between romanticism and realism
This first controversy reveals deeper discomfort. Modric embodied the perfect romantic blow: the child admirer of Boban who finds his dreams of kid. But its 45 balloons affected against Chelsea (4-1 defeat) recall a reality: even geniuses are aging. Di Canio assumes it: “We will see the creativity of the Croatian, but with rhythms and spaces easier for him. »»
The debate already divides Italy. On the one hand, Arrigo Sacchi salutes the courage of the vice-world champion 2018. On the other, part of the press wonders about this strategy of the “prestigious low-cost”. Milan is focusing when European competition favors youth. A double -edged bet.
The rest will say if Modric will be able to respond to his detractors. But a certainty remains: in Serie A, even the legends must prove themselves. And Paolo Di Canio has just reminded him of the 2018 Golden Ballon. The awakening is likely to be brutal.
