Why Modric and Gimenez are not included in Milan’s pre-season tour squad

Milan have officially confirmed their squad of travelling players for their pre-season tour of Asia and Australia, but there will be no Luka Modric nor Santiago Gimenez in Massimiliano Allegri’s team for upcoming friendlies against Arsenal, Liverpool and Perth Glory. 

Milan are jetting off for a pre-season tour, during which they will play against Arsenal in Singapore on July 23, Liverpool in Hong Kong on July 26 and then against Perth Glory in Western Australia on July 31. 

The vast majority of Milan’s first-team stars have been included in the pre-season tour squad, including Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, even though the latter did not take part in an in-house friendly against Milan Futuro on Saturday morning. 

New signings Samuele Ricci and Pietro Terracciano will both take part in the pre-season tour. 

Luka Modric, Milan’s only other new recruit this summer, has been granted extra time off after his participation in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States earlier this month. 

It is a similar situation for Santiago Gimenez, who is also still on his personal holidays after his participation in the Gold Cup with the Mexico national team. 

Several other players still contracted to Milan have not been called up, however, including right-back Emerson Royal, who is still recovering from injury. Tommaso Pobega, who is on the verge of joining Bologna permanently, has also not been called up. 

There is also no room for Ismael Bennacer, Yacine Adli or Devis Vasquez, who are expected to be sold and have not yet trained under Allegri in Milan as of yet. 

There are opportunities for some of Milan’s youngsters to audition in front of Allegri during the July tour, including goalkeepers Lorenzo Torriani and Noah Raveyre, centre-back Matteo Dutu, full-back Vittorio Magni, midfielder Christian Comotto and forward Mattia Liberali. 

Confirmed Milan squad for 2025 pre-season tour 

Goalkeepers: Maignan, P.Terracciano, Torriani, Raveyre. 

Defenders: Gabbia, Tomori, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Jimenez, Bartesaghi, Dutu, Magni. 

Midfielders: Ricci, Fofana, Musah, Bondo, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Saelemaekers, Comotto. 

Forwards: Leao, Colombo, Chukwueze, Liberali, Okafor,