According to MilanNews.it, Croatia national team coach Slaven Bilic spoke about Luka Modric during a press conference.

Bilic stated: "He has lasted this long simply because he is unique; he remains in the squad because he means so much to this team. He is not just a player, nor just a captain—he is an icon. His importance is evident in every aspect, whether at the table, during dinner, or in meetings.

Most importantly, he can still contribute a lot on the pitch and can change a match. He does this in Serie A; Milan are two completely different teams with and without him. He can also change matches for the national team, as he proved a few days ago against the Czech Republic.

Of course, like many other players, we have to consider his workload, so we will take extra care of him. He is simply unique. The old saying that age is just a number is true for him, and he continues to prove it. I think the key lies in his passion and will. And he is still very quick, especially with his first touch."

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