Luka Modric has revealed he held talks with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in 2011 over a possible transfer from Tottenham.
The Croatia international starred for Tottenham in the 2010-11 campaign their first in the Champions League and was strongly linked with a move away.
He admitted at the time he was interested in a switch to London rivals Chelsea but Spurs were said to have knocked back a £22million offer at the time.
Modric was fully aware of Chelsea s attempts to sign him and, nearly a decade on, he has opened up on the conversation he held with Abramovich on the billionaire s yacht.
With the 2010-11 Premier League season over, I was ready for my summer vacation, he wrote in Luka Modric: My Autobiography, which is being serialised by The Guardian.
But it didn t last long, as my agents Vlado Lemic and Davor Curkovic passed on Chelsea s wish to sign me.
I was open to the idea of moving, but then things happened at lightning speed. First, [my wife] Vanja and I took a private jet from Zadar to Cannes, where my management team were waiting.
So far so good
— Luka Modrić (@lukamodric10)
It was all very exciting. Twenty or so people, who seemed part of the security detail, met us at the boat. It was quick and well organised; just as we made ourselves comfortable on one of the luxury decks, Abramovich showed up.
He was accompanied by his wife Dasha and their son. I was fascinated by the discreet disappearance of all the security people just as he arrived. It was obvious they were well trained their timing was perfect.
He wasn t beating around the bush and said: We know you are a quality player. I d like you to sign for Chelsea . I had come to his yacht to talk, so it was evident I wished the same.
Modric added: My feeling was that it was time for a move I wanted to fight for trophies and win titles, and I felt this wouldn t happen if I stayed at Tottenham. I wanted to move to a more ambitious club.
Do you think Tottenham will resist your transfer? Are they going to put up a fight? Abramovich asked. I think the negotiations are going to be tough , I replied, because I knew the clubs were not on good terms.
Modric stayed put at Tottenham for another season before being granted a move to Real Madrid, where he has spent the past eight years and won the Ballon d Or in 2018.
I didn t know if and when [Tottenham chairman Daniel] Levy would agree to sell me, he said.
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.
