Croatian captain Luke Modric, who left Real Madrid after 13 years at the Laliga club, has completed his move to AC Milan in a one -year deal with an opportunity to extend until June 2027, Serie A Side said on Monday.

The arrival of the 39-year-old midfielder was confirmed by newly appointed Milan Coach Massimiliano Allegri earlier this month.

“Very happy to be here to start a new chapter in my career,” Said Modric, who turns 40 in September, in a video on Instagram shared by Milan.

Modic Will wear the jersey number 14, Milan said in a statement.

“An extraordinary honor for them to compare me to (cruyff) … I wore no. 14 in Tottenham in his honor, and because no. 10 was not available,” Modric had said after winning the Ballon D’Or Award in 2018.

Modric, praised as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, announced in May that he would leave True After the World Cup of the club. He made 597 appearances for the Spanish club, winning 28 trophies, including four Laliga titles and six Champions League.

He played his last match for Real on Wednesday, coming as a replacement of the second half during a 4-0 loss in Paris St Germain In the semifinal of the World Cup of the club.

“It’s a bitter end … He is a world football legend and Real Madrid. He will be remembered for many better things than for the 25 minutes he played today,” Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said after the match.

Widely considered Croatia’s biggest player of all time, he has represented the country 188 times, scoring 28 goals. He won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup, where he led Croatia to the final for the first time.

He also won the d’o or in the same year, becoming the first player other than Lionel Messi AND Cristiano Ronaldo To win the prestigious annual award since 2007.

Modric’s arrival reinforces a Milan midfield that also contains Youssouuf fofana, Yunus AND RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEKwith Samuele Ricci joining from Turin At the beginning of this month.

Milan, who failed to qualify for a European competition after finishing eight in the Italian flight league last season, start their campaign in Serie A against newly promoted Abundant on August 23.