Rakitic issues apology after Modric post insults Juventus fans | OneFootball

Ivan Rakitic has been forced to issue an apology to Juventus fans after he accidentally used an insulting chant against them when celebrating Luka Modric’s move to Milan.

Croatia international Rakitic retired in July after a career spent with FC Basel, Schalke 04, Sevilla, Barcelona, Al-Shabab and Hajduk Split.

He is good friends with fellow Croatian Modric and posted on Instagram to celebrate this new experience of joining Milan as a free agent.

Modric congratulations included Juventus insult

Luka Modric during his first interview as a Milan player on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

However, what the former midfielder didn’t realise was that the song he picked to accompany this image of them together was not just in support of Milan, but actively insulting towards Juventus.

When it was pointed out to him, Rakitic removed the offending clip and posted an apology on his Instagram Stories.

“I wish to extend my sincere apologies to the supporters of Juventus. My intention was solely to use a song associated with AC Milan to congratulate my friend Luka Modric, without being aware of the historical context or the lyrics tied to it.

“I had absolutely no desire to offend anyone, least of all a club for which I hold the utmost respect.”

The song was a chant heard regularly in the stadium, ‘Chi non salta e un gobbo Juventino,’ translated as ‘whoever doesn’t jump is a Juventus supporter.’

Gobbo means hunchback and is an insulting term used to describe Juve fans.