Luka Modric and Kevin De Bruyne, two of the best midfielders of their technology, have swapped the glamour of Madrid and Manchester for the battleground of Serie A. Each arrived as free brokers, and each carry a status as legends of the trendy sport. Now, their futures are intertwined in Italy, the place Milan and Napoli look to them as leaders. However there’s a burning query surrounding their arrival: How do their salaries evaluate this season?
Italian soccer has quietly rebuilt itself lately. Whereas the Premier League dominated headlines for its extravagant transfers, Serie A discovered its identification in tactical battles and dramatic title races. Napoli’s historic two Scudetto wins up to now years, Inter’s rise as Champions League finalists, and Milan’s push for glory have reignited world curiosity. Into this panorama step Modric and De Bruyne—two midfielders whose names alone nonetheless strike concern into opponents.
For Modric, becoming a member of the Rossoneri represents a continuation of a profession constructed on technical brilliance and management. After greater than a decade at Actual Madrid, the place he lifted 28 trophies—together with six Champions Leagues and a Ballon d’Or in 2018—the Croatian maestro stays hungry.
De Bruyne, in the meantime, left behind a legacy at Manchester Metropolis that features 108 targets, 177 assists, six Premier League titles, and a Champions League crown in 2023. Now at Napoli, he hopes to spearhead Antonio Conte’s challenge to defend the Scudetto.
Respect between rivals
Whereas the rivalry between Milan and Napoli is fierce, Modric and De Bruyne don’t have anything however admiration for one another. In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, De Bruyne mirrored on the problem of dealing with Modric in Italy: “I do know Luka fairly properly as a result of he’s Kovacic’s greatest pal. We’ve spoken a couple of instances, and he’s an excellent man. I’ve plenty of respect for him. He’s had an unbelievable profession. I hope that after we face one another, it’ll be nice matches.”
These “nice matches” are prone to take middle stage at each San Siro and the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, turning Serie A right into a stage the place two legends cross paths once more.
The wage comparability revealed
Right here’s the place the 2 midfielders differ most: their salaries. In accordance with Fabrizio Romano and Calcio e Finanza, Modric earns $3.8 million per yr (web) at Milan, plus add-ons. That makes him solely the eighth-highest earner on the membership. Milan’s high earners embody Adrien Rabiot, Rafael Leao, and Christopher Nkunku, every on $5.4 million yearly.
| Place | Participant | Wage (per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Rabiot | $5.4m |
| 2. | Leao | $5.4m |
| 3. | Nkunku | $5.4m |
| 4. | Bennacer | $4.3m |
| 5. | Loftus-Cheek | $4.3m |
| 6. | Origi | $4.3m |
| 7. | Pulisic | $4.3m |
| 8. | Modric | $3.8m |
| 9. | Tomori | $3.8m |
| 10. | Fofana | $3.2m |
Napoli, however, made De Bruyne certainly one of their top-paid stars. He earns $5.9 million per yr, second solely to Romelu Lukaku’s $6.5 million wage. The figures spotlight a distinction: Modric is a part of Milan’s balanced wage construction, whereas De Bruyne immediately grew to become certainly one of Napoli’s highest earners.
| Place | Participant | Wage (per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Lukaku | $6.5m |
| 2. | De Bruyne | $5.9m |
| 3. | Hojlund | $5.4m |
| 4. | Lobotka | $3.8m |
| 5. | Politano | $3.5m |
| 6. | McTominay | $3.2m |
| 7. | Neres | $3.2m |
| 8. | Elmas | $3.2m |
| 9. | Di Lorenzo | $3.2m |
| 10. | Lang | $3.0m |
