The San Siro will host an intriguing Coppa Italia clash on Sunday as Milan begins its campaign with a first-round tie against Bari. For many supporters, however, the real question is not about the opposition but rather about one man: Will Luka Modric make his Coppa Italia debut for Milan against Bari?
The Croatian icon, who joined the Rossoneri in one of the most remarkable transfers of the summer, has yet to be fully integrated into Massimiliano Allegri’s plans. While fans are eager to see him in competitive action, doubts remain over whether Sunday’s game is the right moment for his grand introduction.
Following a chaotic 2024-25 season, Milan was left searching for stability. The Rossoneri finished only eighth in Serie A, cycled through two Portuguese coaches—Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceicao—and fell short in Europe, being eliminated from the Champions League by Feyenoord. To make matters worse, they lost the Coppa Italia final to Bologna despite winning the Italian Super Cup in January.
That combination of disappointment and underachievement led to sweeping changes. Massimiliano Allegri returned to the dugout, tasked with restoring order and direction to the seven-time European champions. Alongside him came one of the greatest midfielders of his generation: Luka Modric, who swapped the white of Real Madrid for the red and black of Milan.
Will Modric feature in the game?
And now, the mystery many fans have been waiting to be answered: Will Luka Modric feature against Bari? According to Tuttosport, Allegri is weighing his options carefully. “One of the key questions that Massimiliano Allegri must come up with an answer to is where to play Luka Modric,” the outlet reported.
At nearly 40 years of age, the Croatian star is still performing at an elite level, but his condition must be managed. Allegri has reportedly decided to deploy him as a regista, the deep-lying playmaker role, rather than as a box-to-box midfielder. This would allow him to dictate the rhythm of the game while conserving his energy.
📰 @Gazzetta_it: Probable XI v Bari pic.twitter.com/SHlUSjZzwA
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However, the coach may opt to rest him against Bari in favor of players who are fitter and more integrated at this stage of the season. Samuele Ricci, Youssouf Fofana, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all expected to start, leaving the two summer signings Modric and Ardon Jashari as potential substitutes.