By Andrea Caropreso
Index
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Milan and Napoli are about to complete two of the most important signings of this summer’s transfer window: Modric on one side, De Bruyne on the other. Ageless stars who will undoubtedly enrich our league with the class that has defined their careers. True, their IDs are starting to yellow with age, but in a league not known for its intensity, like Serie A, Modric and De Bruyne—if managed wisely—can still make a difference.
The Comparison
Kevin De Bruyne’s signing by Napoli is a real financial shock for the club: €5.5 million net per season for two years plus a €10 million signing bonus, resulting in a gross commitment of around €40 million—without the tax relief from the “Decreto Crescita.” This outlay further increases the wage bill, which already weighs heavily on a budget with significant personnel costs, now with no means of fiscal relief.
On the Rossoneri side, Milan has opted for a more cautious approach: Modrić’s contract runs until June 30, 2026 (with an option) at €3.5 million net—around €6.5 million gross—fitting into a salary structure that in 2024/25 reached €107 million, about €55 million of which is for regular starters. From this perspective, the Croatian former Real Madrid star can’t be considered untouchable, especially as he turns 40 in September. Meanwhile, Milan is selling Reijnders to Manchester City and will certainly need to reinforce their midfield.
There is, however, a fundamental difference—and it’s not age (34 for the Belgian and almost 40 for the Croatian). While Napoli is experiencing a peak in spending with De Bruyne (which somewhat goes against De Laurentiis’ model of affordable, young talent), Milan is signing Modrić for just one year at a more manageable cost.
Brilliant but Different
On the field, Modric and De Bruyne have been among the best football has had to offer over the past 15 years. Flair, creativity, vision—all backed by incredible numbers. The Belgian has scored 155 goals for Manchester City and provided 261 assists, proving to be not just a playmaker but often an additional forward.
Modric’s numbers are different, as his style has been more focused on orchestrating play than attacking. Nevertheless, in 591 games for Real Madrid, he has tallied 43 goals—often crucial—and 95 assists.
Old Youngsters
When talking about two undeniably talented players of advancing age, there’s always the risk of a flop. Many have raised the concern in recent days that players like these—technically beyond reproach—might simply be looking to wind down their careers in Serie A.
However, physical condition is a key factor. Modric, although carefully managed by Ancelotti last season, didn’t miss a single match due to injury. De Bruyne’s case is slightly different: while he’s never suffered long-term absences during most of his career, in the last two years, he has missed over 50 matches due to physical problems. Perhaps this is one of the reasons City decided not to renew his contract and focus on young prospect Cherki.
Modric and De Bruyne are, in a sense, old youngsters—players who can still offer much to a league like Serie A, which desperately needs stars like them. And even if their best years were spent elsewhere, for now, we’ll enjoy them for a couple of seasons.
By Andrea Caropreso
