Saturday, July 14, 2012

Modric could have joined Madrid for €18m in 2008


Luka Modric could have joined Real Madrid exactly four years ago in 2008, months before Dinamo Zagreb sold him to Tottenham for €21m according to some sources, or for €25m according to others. Either way, he would have cost Real Madrid significantly less, maybe because they expressed an interest in him before the Londoners did.

At the time, Pedja Mijatovic was directly responsible for sporting matters at Real Madrid. Until that moment he’d made some good signings. Real Madrid combed the international market at that time for future stars.

Mijatovic, who always kept a keen eye on Serbia and Croatia's up and coming talent soon noticed the lad, who at 16 had landed at Dinamo Zagreb and been nicknamed The bird by his teammates because of his sharp features, especially in profile.

Two years after his arrival at Dinamo, and after a couple of successful loan spells, Modric became a star in his country and for his national team. But before half of Europe set their sights on him, Real Madrid had already done its homework.

A deal was struck with Dinamo Zagreb, the player was determined, as was Real Madrid, but then the transfer didn't happen. Real Madrid backed out at the last minute because it believed that €18m was too much money to pay for a player yet untested in an important league. published marca.com-CobMarin


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