Italian football fever is sweeping through Perth, with AC Milan’s Croatian superstar Luka Modric touching down amid a throng of fanfare ahead of his side’s marquee match-up at Optus Stadium this week.

It comes mere hours after his club’s bitter cross-town rivals Inter Milan were also greeted by a noisy welcome upon their arrival in Perth as the week-long Calcio Italiano football festival prepares to kick-off.

The star-laden squads of both AC and Inter Milan have now fully assembled in Perth ahead of Wednesday’s clash at Optus Stadium, a rare ‘Derby della Madonnina’ to take place outside of Italy.

And it is midfield maestro Modric — who won the sport’s highest individual honour, the Ballon d’Or, in 2018 — whose presence is the icing on the cake for local fans, after the 40 year-old touched down for his first training since appearing at a fifth World Cup.

Fans decked in Croatian jerseys lined the arrival hall at Perth Airport as the veteran received a rousing reception, as fans chanted his name and clamoured for selfies and autographs.

Modric, who is the most-decorated player in global giants’ Real Madrid’s history and just extended his stay with the club for another season, was quickly whisked away by Milan minders.

Earlier on Sunday, Inter fans had raised a ruckus outside their team’s hotel, braving the city’s morning chill to give their side a similarly loud welcome upon their arrival.

Fans banged on the doors of the lobby and stood outside chanting for their heroes after the reigning Italian league champions jetted in ahead of their two games in Perth.

Inter and AC Milan will go head-to-head on Wednesday night, before Inter’s other big rival Juventus — the most successful team in Italian history — will face them at the same stadium on Saturday.

Juventus will then round out the slate of games when they take on Serie B outfit Palermo at HBF Park next Wednesday.