The exhibition fatigue

Luka Modric landing in Perth for a derby against Inter is a spectacle, but it is a hollow one for anyone watching the tactical state of the game. At 40, the Croatian legend is still pulling crowds, as evidenced by the chaotic scenes at the airport. However, hauling the squad halfway across the globe for a friendly just weeks before the domestic season begins is a logistical nightmare.

Milan’s preseason preparation looks scattered. While Jude Bellingham is busy reconnecting with his roots at Edgbaston, elite European clubs are treating the preseason as a glorified commercial tour. The physical toll of long-haul travel, combined with the humidity of Perth, rarely produces high-level football.

Tactical stagnation

Expect the Derby della Madonnina in Australia to be disjointed. You can see the patterns in these friendlies every year: high defensive lines left exposed because the pressing triggers haven't been synchronized yet. Inter’s disciplined back three usually thrives in these low-stakes environments, but both managers are likely to prioritize fitness rotations over coherent shape.

My prediction for the match? A dull affair where the scoreline matters less than the injury report. Milan will struggle to find verticality in the final third, relying on individual brilliance from the veterans rather than cohesive patterns of play. It’s a 1-1 draw that will tell us absolutely nothing about either side’s readiness for the league campaign.

The cost of the spotlight

There is a darker side to these tours. The warm reception for Modric is great for the brand, but it masks the lack of actual training time. Elite athletes need consistency in sleep cycles and training loads, two things destroyed by cross-continental flights and endless autograph sessions.

We are watching the commercialization of the sport strip away its competitive rigor. If Milan wants to challenge for the title, these months must be spent refining defensive transitions and vertical ball movement, not posing for selfies in Western Australia. If they treat the upcoming Serie A season with the same lack of focus they show in these tours, they will be out of the title race by October.