Luka Modric Autobiography

[GMI]

Luka Modric extract: 'Meeting Roman Abramovich on his yacht was exciting'

In a new book, the Croat recounts a secret discussion with Chelsea’s owner which led to a transfer request at Spurs

www.theguardian.com

An extract from the Modric biography in the Guardian today. A couple of paragraphs below.

"I had a couple of meetings with Levy during that season. In January, he even came to my home and tried to talk me into extending my contract with Tottenham. It would’ve been my second extension. Among other things, Levy then told me he’d let me leave for an offer from a big club such as Real Madrid. I told him I wouldn’t sign anything. My main focus was to play well for Tottenham and to prepare for Euro 2012.

Despite all the turbulence, I always had a good relationship with Levy. He was the one who brought me to Tottenham – for a record fee in the club’s history. That only showed how highly he thought of me. However, I resented him because on a couple of occasions he had promised to let me move to a bigger club and then broke his promise. For me, one’s promise and one’s word are more important than anything.

I had proven myself as a player. I didn’t know where I would go from Tottenham. I didn’t know if and when Levy would agree to sell me. But I was convinced it was time to move on, to a new and bigger challenge. After four wonderful years, during which we felt at home in England, Vanja and I knew this life had come to an end"

 

[Jody]

Luka Modric extract: 'Meeting Roman Abramovich on his yacht was exciting'

In a new book, the Croat recounts a secret discussion with Chelsea’s owner which led to a transfer request at Spurs

www.theguardian.com

Is that not clear evidence of tapping up a contracted player?

 

[rossdapep]

Luka Modric extract: 'Meeting Roman Abramovich on his yacht was exciting'

In a new book, the Croat recounts a secret discussion with Chelsea’s owner which led to a transfer request at Spurs

www.theguardian.com

An extract from the Modric biography in the Guardian today. A couple of paragraphs below.

"I had a couple of meetings with Levy during that season. In January, he even came to my home and tried to talk me into extending my contract with Tottenham. It would’ve been my second extension. Among other things, Levy then told me he’d let me leave for an offer from a big club such as Real Madrid. I told him I wouldn’t sign anything. My main focus was to play well for Tottenham and to prepare for Euro 2012.

Despite all the turbulence, I always had a good relationship with Levy. He was the one who brought me to Tottenham – for a record fee in the club’s history. That only showed how highly he thought of me. However, I resented him because on a couple of occasions he had promised to let me move to a bigger club and then broke his promise. For me, one’s promise and one’s word are more important than anything.

I had proven myself as a player. I didn’t know where I would go from Tottenham. I didn’t know if and when Levy would agree to sell me. But I was convinced it was time to move on, to a new and bigger challenge. After four wonderful years, during which we felt at home in England, Vanja and I knew this life had come to an end"

Allowing a player to move onto a big club like Madrid is one thing. Allowing him to move to your detested rivals is another. Modric should know this.

 

[RickyVilla]

 

[McFlash]

As if Levy was gonna let him go to bloody Chelsea?
The man's an idiot for thinking it was a possibility, as I doubt Levy classed them as a "big club".

 

[carmeldevil]

Luka Modric extract: 'Meeting Roman Abramovich on his yacht was exciting'

In a new book, the Croat recounts a secret discussion with Chelsea’s owner which led to a transfer request at Spurs

www.theguardian.com

An extract from the Modric biography in the Guardian today. A couple of paragraphs below.

"I had a couple of meetings with Levy during that season. In January, he even came to my home and tried to talk me into extending my contract with Tottenham. It would’ve been my second extension. Among other things, Levy then told me he’d let me leave for an offer from a big club such as Real Madrid. I told him I wouldn’t sign anything. My main focus was to play well for Tottenham and to prepare for Euro 2012.

Despite all the turbulence, I always had a good relationship with Levy. He was the one who brought me to Tottenham – for a record fee in the club’s history. That only showed how highly he thought of me. However, I resented him because on a couple of occasions he had promised to let me move to a bigger club and then broke his promise. For me, one’s promise and one’s word are more important than anything.

I had proven myself as a player. I didn’t know where I would go from Tottenham. I didn’t know if and when Levy would agree to sell me. But I was convinced it was time to move on, to a new and bigger challenge. After four wonderful years, during which we felt at home in England, Vanja and I knew this life had come to an end"

But Levy did sell him to a big club - just not Chelsea. Come on, this "broke his promise" is bullshit.

 

[tiger666]

Diddums

 

[rossdapep]

Also, I wonder if he still feels Levy denied him, seen as he moved to the world's biggest club and won 4 UCL?

That would not have happened at Chelsea.

He should be thanking him

 

[George94]

Very interesting read - remarkable how well he did end up playing that season, despite all this going on behind the scenes.

I remember at the time being irritated with how Redknapp gave sympathy for him publicly, but it seems his approach worked.

He obviously still doesn't quite understand that making a move from Spurs to Chelsea, as it is with Arsenal, is completely off the cards.

He got his move in the end, and I'm sure he's glad he waited for a genuinely big club.

 

[spursfan77]

View attachment 71838

never gets old. I’d still welcome him back

 

[cjbyid]

Never would have got his move to Madrid and won everything if he went to Chelsea.

Levy did him a favour.

 

[Shadydan]

I remember when he trudged off the pitch when we got slapped 5-1 against Man City, I thought to myself this guy is done at Spurs, felt so despondent after that - pre season was a mess because there were constant rumours of Modric leaving and we were taking ages to sign Scott Parker, then the window closed, Parker signed Modric got his head down and we went on a run of like 14 games undefeated starting with a 4-0 win over Liverpool, and Modric scored a screamer.

 

[Riandor]

It’s an extract.
Needs to be taken in context with the rest of the book before one can judge.

 

[spurs mental]

I remember when he trudged off the pitch when we got slapped 5-1 against Man City, I thought to myself this guy is done at Spurs, felt so despondent after that - pre season was a mess because there were constant rumours of Modric leaving and we were taking ages to sign Scott Parker, then the window closed, Parker signed Modric got his head down and we went on a run of like 14 games undefeated starting with a 4-0 win over Liverpool, and Modric scored a screamer.

He was outstanding that season. So under appreciated too in my opinion.

Could watch him play all day and not get bored. Still my favourite footballer to watch now.

 

[allpaths]

Best player I've ever seen at spurs.

 

[Hazelton]

My favourite ever Spurs player but he doesn't come out of that story very well at all.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

But Levy did sell him to a big club - just not Chelsea. Come on, this "broke his promise" is bullshit.

Footballers think Chelsea are a big club. Supporters don’t

 

[Fitchspur]

Just read the exert about how tortured he was about the Madrid negotiations and how things kept changing. I get that it must have been frustrating, but it all seems a bit OTT for me!

 

[DaleMurphy]

Can’t wait to read it

don’t care at all about that excerpt don’t see what the big deal is

 

[wadewill]

Footballers think Chelsea are a big club. Supporters don’t

Supporters are aware of history...

Because they pay big wages. Although kids at work sub 25 think of Chelsea of a massive club so could tie in with some of the players now days thinking that.

They will always be a glorified Charlton to me