View: Ballon d'Or winner wouldn't have been Rangers novelty signing - 'why not?'

Luka Modric could’ve been brought to Rangers last summer: that’s according to Davide Ancelotti, who was in the running before Russell Martin was appointed.

Ancelotti, son of legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti, was reported to have held talks with Rangers over becoming their new head coach last summer.

Talks between the two parties took place, and the 36-year-old looked nailed on to be installed in the Ibrox dugout.

However, those talks eventually collapsed, and it was the ill-fated decision to appoint Martin that would be made instead, with Ancelotti eventually becoming Botafogo manager, but only lasted until December.

Given his links to Real Madrid having worked there as an assistant under his father for a number of years, his potential appointment excited many Rangers fans at the thought of the transfer deals he could make.

What did Davide Ancelotti say about Luka Modric and Rangers?

Modric was linked with a move to Rangers last summer, potentially following Ancelotti from Real Madrid to Rangers in what would’ve been one of world football’s most remarkable transfers in many years.

The Croatian footballing icon left Madrid after 13 seasons in July last year following the expiration of his contract, but despite being 39-years old at the time, it was clear he still wanted to play in 2025-26.

In the end, he would end up signing a one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months with Serie A giants AC Milan.

Ancelotti, however, has revealed that had he been appointed as Rangers head coach, he would’ve tried to bring Modric to Ibrox.

Speaking to BBC Sounds via the Rangers Review, he confessed that it’s a question that he certainly would’ve asked of the midfielder.

“I could have asked him…why not? Rangers are a big club, with a big history in Europe that always plays European competition,” Ancelotti said.

“And Luka Modric needed to prepare for the World Cup. In the end, he decided to do what he is doing now – he decided to go and play with a big club and someone that he could represent.

“But honestly, I didn’t ask anyone to go to Rangers because I didn’t get the job.”

How has Modric performed for AC Milan this season?

One of the most decorated footballers of his era, Modric is a name known in every corner of the world.

The now 40-year-old is one of the most versatile and gifted central midfielders the game has ever seen, and would’ve undoubtedly been a huge signing for Rangers from a commercial and profile standpoint.

But, would he just have been that, or do his numbers from his season with AC Milan suggest otherwise? Well, they most certainly point to the latter.

Modric has started 29 of his 30 Serie A games this season, and has scored two goals whilst also contributing with three assists.

As per Sofascore, he’s won six team of the week inclusions, created six big chances, registered a passing accuracy of 91 per cent and has played 1.7 key passes per game.

He’s also recovered 5.7 balls per game, made zero errors leading to goals, won 1.5 tackles and made 1.3 interceptions per game, as well as winning 56 per cent of his ground duels.

So, any notion of Modric simply being a means to drawing more eyes on Ibrox and selling more Rangers shirts? Forget about it. He’s still, somehow, one of the very best central midfielders around.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.