Former Barcelona and Sevilla star Ivan Rakitic has hit out at the decision to allow Luka Modric to leave Real Madrid for AC Milan, labelling the maestro's departure as a significant loss. Rakitic expressed his disbelief that a player of Modric's enduring quality was allowed to walk away from the Bernabeu despite still performing at clinical levels.

Veteran AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric has responded to rumours he could rejoin Real Madrid in a sensational summer transfer. The 40-year-old left the Santiago Bernabeu in June last year before completing a free transfer to Milan, but it has been suggested he could retrace his steps amid a creativity void in the Madrid engine room.

Christian Pulisic has seen a USMNT-themed “myth” debunked by AC Milan legend Andriy Shevchenko. The United States international has faced accusations of already turning his attention towards a home World Cup this summer, but Shevchenko has refuted those claims and backed Pulisic to rediscover his best form at club level during the 2025-26 run-in.

AC Milan are ready to trigger an extension option in Luka Modric’s contract, but the Ballon d’Or winner will not make a decision on his future until the end of the season. The iconic Croatian midfielder is now 40 years of age and wants to mull over his options carefully. USMNT star Christian Pulisic is taking a similar stance, as he delays committing to fresh terms at San Siro.

Luka Modric has named Jose Mourinho as the toughest manager of his illustrious career, claiming the legendary boss is so intense that he once made Cristiano Ronaldo cry in the Real Madrid dressing room. The Croatia and AC Milan midfielder has worked under several world-class coaches during his sparkling spell in football, but he has labelled the Portuguese as the strictest of them all.

The Christmas period is upon us, which means we are somehow already more or less at the midway point of the 2025-26 football season. As many of Europe's leading leagues pause for the winter break, it's time to take stock and reflect on four scintillating months of action. It's also the opportune moment to assess those players who completed transfers across the continent in the summer, now that they have a decent sample size of games under their belts.