Modric turns heel, takes aim at Levy

By: Jack | July 10th, 2011

Luka Modric accepted an invitation to join the Four Horsemen this weekend. His first act, I’m happy to report, was to reiterate his desire to take up residence at Chelsea. And, yeah, lambaste Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy in the process.

Soap Opera status. This should get even more interesting now, eh?

luka-modric003
Free Modric

So, yeah, Luka’s gone and got himself in the papers again. Nearly a month since his initial public declaration to move on to greener pastures, the Croatian has returned to print media to voice his dismay at Levy’s so-called “twisted account” of their meeting last week in London.

Levy said last week that Modric understood the situation: that he was to remain at Tottenham regardless of whatever interest there was from other clubs, namely us. Note that Levy didn’t say Modric was happy with this decision, just that he understood Spurs’ stance. Well, ‘Arry followed that up, no doubt to the chagrin of Tottenham supporters, by saying Modric was a bit confused heading into preseason training.

Confused? After reading these new quotes, initially published in Zagreb-based daily Sportske novosti, I’d reckon Modric knows exactly what he wants. And it’s not to stay at Spurs.

“I reminded the chairman of our gentleman’s agreement when we were in Dubrovnik last summer and I agreed a contract extension with Tottenham,” Modric is quoted as saying. “At that time, I had an open chat with Levy – that if a bigger club came in with a concrete offer, we would consider it and agree the best solution for all concerned. Now Levy doesn’t want to talk to me and said there is no possibility that I can leave Spurs. He threatened me – he said if I didn’t accept the club’s stance, they would make me sit on the bench or in the stands.

“A lot has been published in the press about the meeting with Levy, who gave the public a twisted account of what happened. I must say that I am genuinely disappointed about what Levy said to me. He didn’t care about what I was telling him. It all only convinced me further that I was right to consider moving on to another club. I hope that eventually he will understand the situation and that we will reach an agreement and go our separate ways in an appropriate manner.

“There is no doubt that Chelsea want me – they sent a concrete offer to Tottenham. I know that the new Chelsea boss [André Villas-Boas] said he wants me in his team. Of course I am flattered by this interest in me – it’s a club that all players dream of joining, fighting for every competition available.”

The man’s going in, Ric Flair style. You have to love it.

Levy is notoriously difficult to negotiate with, to the good of his club it must be said. Nevertheless, you have to wonder how long he can allow this to drag on. Sure, Spurs will say there was no gentleman’s agreement, but you would think you can’t simply throw Modric out there and expect the team to be able to sweep this ordeal under the rug. The idea of letting him rot in the reserves is nonsense, too. It all leads back to this: all Levy is attempting to do is wipe his hands of this. Deflect all criticism toward the player so that when he leaves it reflects poorly on him and now the club.

If I were a betting man, which I’m not, I’d reckon this deal gets down before the end of the month, perhaps sooner. Spurs will need a replacement after all; actually, that’s a must.

Is this situation similar to the Berbatov sitcom? In a sense, yes. But, unlike Berbatov who only had one year remaining on his deal I think, we must remember that Modric is on a long-term contract at Spurs, which makes this one a very different animal. No worry, though. Roman has the resources to make it happen.

Sportske novosti has also thrown out the idea that Spurs are interested in requesting Sturridge, Mikel and Alex in any deal for Modric. Now that is laughable. I guess we’ll just have to wait it out to see what happens, just as we have all summer.

Offer your thoughts on this latest development in the comments below. Until the next time, trust in AVB. And free Modric.

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Category: Chelsea Team News, Quotes, Transfer News

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jeppehe

Free Modric!
Seth

I wonder how long the Spurs faithful have been following this blog. They keep popping up and, through barely understandable gibberish, flipping shit because their players would rather win something.
On a side note, I'm all for pursuing Modric. What a stud.
Ray

Who the hell are these posters?
Jack

Nervous boys.
TWH

Not used to having many fans around on here are you? So you are a small club like Fulham Jack...
Jack

Spurs fanboys? Not really.
Jj

1- There is no such thing as a gentlemans agreement. It should have been written into a contract. Lukas fault it wasn't, but this could still turn out to be the press twisting and writing rubbish. The sportske is the equivalent of the daily mail which first broke the story and has been spouting rubbish and generally trying to stir the story throughout. It takes a very anti-spurs front due to there journalists being banned from press areas at WHL. 2- Chelsea aren't a big club there a small/medium club with lots of money. They bought there success, position and trophies and any club with a rich backer could do the same and offer huge wages and pay over the odds to attract the top players. Before abramovich chelsea were nothing. 3- This so called agreement meant that if an offer came in for Luka it would be considered. An offer did come in, it was considered, it was too low and it was considered that the club doesn't want to sell. So his gentlemans agreement has gone ahead. 4- Chelsea have tapped up Modric. Its obvious they have been in touch with him or his agent before they bid to see if Modric was keen. They found out he would be open to the offer and the silly amounts of money chelsea would pay him hence the low bid. Thinking that if Modric forced it through one end that chelsea would get him on the cheap. They made a bid. Spurs turned it down and told chelsea not to go public with it. Chelsea did so that the press could get wind of it and twist stories like they do. Also when has boas said he wants modric? There are no quotes or soundbites. Yet modric stats he knows boas want him. How does he know this?! The bid was made and rejected long before boas got the chelsea job. Yet modric states he knows boas wants him..I'm guessing that means chelsea have been on the phone to modric or his agent and spoken with him. Behind spurs back which is tapping up. Chelsea have tapped up before and certainly are not innocent in this. 5- I can not see Levy selling Luka Modric to chelsea now. Its gone too far. He might well consider the sale, which will make himself look stupid going back on his word, but I reckon he will tell Modric you can get your transfer away but only to a club abroad and I can't see him selling to chelsea at any price. He doesn't need to for a start. Spurs don't need the money, can play VDV, Krancjer, Sandro or pienaar in there and modric has 5 years left on his contract. He would also look for about 45million and how many teams abroad can pay that?! Luka will prob end up out on loan or banished to the reserves until he grows up and shows some loyalty and respect to club and its fans that took a punt on him, made him a star and voted him player of the season even if its only for one more season to see if spurs can get back into the CL.
Duke

totally agree, intelligent write, too intelligent for the likes of the 'thick' jack
Jack

Ironically, this entire comment reads like a Daily Mail story. "Before abramovich chelsea were nothing." The genius.
Jj

What did chelsea have before roman moved in? They were on the brink of going bust. Admittedly they had a few years of relative top half finishes under bates. But they have only been considered a top 4 club since roman splashed the money. He has bought them the best players by offering attractive contracts and going on shopping sprees paying over the odds for the best players to gain instant success. Chelsea were a small team before roman arrived, they aren't much bigger now. Apart from they have taken on board a few thousand more plastic fans. The kind that any team that gets a bit successful attracts. They have no history or tradition. Unlike teams like man utd, liverpool, arsenal, everton, spurs, villa. Those are big clubs. Chelsea just have money that they have spent to get where they are. Take romans rubles away and you would not have won 3 prem leagues, 3 fa cups and 2 league cups. You wouldnt be in the champions league, you wouldn't have the drogbas and lampards nor would you be able to offer big wages or fees. Infact you would probably of been in administration with debts chelsea had. Yet teams like spurs are still finishing top 6 without vast injections of cash from a rich sugar daddy. Without him chelsea are nothing and now city are copying the chelsea blueprint. That is fact, not made up fairytales like what the DM print.What did chelsea have before roman moved in? They were on the brink of going bust. Admittedly they had a few years of relative top half finishes under bates. But they have only been considered a top 4 club since roman splashed the money. He has bought them the best players by offering attractive contracts and going on shopping sprees paying over the odds for the best players to gain instant success. Chelsea were a small team before roman arrived, they aren't much bigger now. Apart from they have taken on board a few thousand more plastic fans. The kind that any team that gets a bit successful attracts. They have no history or tradition. Unlike teams like man utd, liverpool, arsenal, everton, spurs, villa. Those are big clubs. Chelsea just have money that they have spent to get where they are. Take romans rubles away and you would not have won 3 prem leagues, 3 fa cups and 2 league cups. You wouldnt be in the champions league, you wouldn't have the drogbas and lampards nor would you be able to offer big wages or fees. Infact you would probably of been in administration with debts chelsea had. Yet teams like spurs are still finishing top 6 without vast injections of cash from a rich sugar daddy. Without him chelsea are nothing and now city are copying the chelsea blueprint.
Timlos

Can you give me a list of your so-called big teams and show me which one actually grooms its players from its mother's womb and never buys any player. Even the unicef/UEFA darling is after Fabregas and Sanchez, and guess what, they are getting them for free. Really, I'm serious, they are not paying a dime for them. Modric simply knows that when it was 2 teams slugging it out for one champion's league slot it took TH years to get it, now Mancity has come into the equation and relegated Arsenal into that 4th slot fight so you now have 3 teams competeing for the 4th slot - Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham - what really are your chances of securing champion's league?
cagieboi

how about stop talking about history and looking ahead at the future. every team starts from somewhere, and it is CFC's time now. even the big names that you mentioned had to start from somewhere.

reg. modric, the player wants to move on, let him. why are you being so insecure, or is it that with him leaving you know you would be competing for top half of the league

and coming to the other topic, be honest and tell me that if a 'rich sugar daddy' as you have so eloquently put across, comes and takes over your beloved TH, then you will say no and continue to be the mid level team that you are. you just won't.

so relax and keep loving your team, and stop coming to our page and displaying your insecurity and hatred.
Thecatfromalien

LOL. you sir, clearly have no idea what you are talking about. did roman abramovic run over your dog or something? or is it the fact that abramovic went for spurs first and you sent him packing - biggest mistake ever!
Thecatfromalien

Shame on Levy for not being a man of his word. Hardly surprising though. £25-30m would be a fair price for a player of his talents considering his limited results in terms of goals and assists
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Doug

Just a quick reminder of the 'terms' of the gentleman's agreement...

"We would agree the best solution for ALL of us"

What part of £22m for one of the best players in the Prem last season is a good deal for Spurs? Are you on drugs? That's a £6m profit. Even Chris Samba will make more profit than that.
Canadianraptor

So Modric dreams of Chelski. Dream on, petite merde!
ped

you can have him for 30 million + the drog - but beware.. 'cos with an ageing squad & an unproven premiership manager you might find it difficult yourselves finishing in the top 4 next season & hey... the little rat faced freak will want to leave you for a "bigger club" aka an arab millionaire owned one in manchester....
True_blue

where did u finish last season???first put ur house in order ......drog clearly wont want to play for a small club like yours....you cant even pay drogs wages lol....sour grapes suckers;)
TWH

I wouldn't brag too much over this, it's by no means a given that Chelsea will sign Modric (in fact I now believe you will definitely not get him), and the whole sorry affair could now cost you that transfer ban that's been hanging over your head.
If you can't sign anyone, and Tottenham make a couple of improvements, you could easily drop out the Champions League places next season.
Jack

Wait, what? We picked up seven points over nine games from November to January last season, and still finished second. Odds of a repeat of that are slim as hell.
TWH

Or a sign of your squad's deficiencies?
See you've already lost Essien for the forseeable (shame, he actually seems like a decent guy), a transfer ban would hurt you badly because it's evident you need an overhaul and everyone's a year older.
Jack

Really? So, with our squad deficiencies, and despite you saying we need an overhaul, we still finished second. What the hell does that say about Spurs? Also, who has actually strengthened this summer, other than the reigning league champions? City? They've purchased an average fullback and a central defender that may or may not prove a good buy. Spurs certainly haven't. Arsenal certainly haven't. Us? Well, we have a new manager, a new staff and will clearly sign a few elite players. How on earth does that equal a regression?

And what the hell is this fucking transfer ban Spurs fans keep talking about? Fairly hilarious talk considering your manager chats up players repeatedly. Plus, it was your club that made our initial bid public, not us.
Duke

arsenal have bought gervinho, and will buy more, so will manu (sneider), mancity and liverpool. spurs im not sure as they always look at bargain basements in the last day of transfer activity or fire sales from real madrid (lass diara probably). they did it with VDV but has counted against them in jan sales when small bids were rejected in final day which cost them a top 4 place.

i agree that chelsea finished 2nd after playing crap most of the season, next season will be better with 1-2 fresh players as well as players like luiz, torres, ramires getting more experienced playing in chelsea shirt. Looking at tottenham, they dont look like a top 4 team and may even drop a place next season if they dont get rid of Modric (who will definitely NOT play to his full capacity with everything thats happenned) they should never try and keep a unhappy player, and i dont think anyone else will bid more than 25m for a unhappy player.

Transfer ban talk is ridiculous from spurs fans (and i am one of them) , chelsea need to worry about the uefa fair play rules though if they carry on spending as they have been.
TWH

City will spend big, United have already moved and may well get Sneijder, Arsenal say they're going to commit funds (hope not though) and Spurs have got several irons in the fire.
Last season was a freak - nobody in the top 6 played that well and there wasn't much squad improvement from most - this year will be different, everyone's doing something. The Manchester clubs should probably finish 1 and 2 next season, other places should be up for grabs amongst the following four.
'And what the hell is this fucking transfer ban Spurs fans keep talking about?
You should know more about Chelsea than you apparently do, you're basically still on probation after Kakuta, if Levy gets any evidence against you then you're screwed (he'll be looking, remember the Arsesen photo?). Then no 'elite players' for you...
No one takes Redknapp seriously, I'm not really that bothered whether he stays or goes personally, but nothing he says in the media is going to the authorities. Abramovich dealing with the likes of Joorabchian however, that could get you into a whole heap of trouble - the man's bad news.
So well done, you've successfully unsettled Modric, but it will now lead to one of two outcomes which most sensible Spurs fans would be content with - i) He'll be sold to anyone but you for good money or an exciting part-exchange, or ii) he'll be sold to you at a ruinous price and we'll buy two players who are equally as good. Win-win.
Jack

Man.
"Last season was a freak" So it was a freak for everyone but Chelsea? Insightful. "basically still on probation after Kakuta" Basically, what does that exactly mean? Perhaps you should go back and actually read the ruling - in which we were cleared. Cleared isn't probation.

And, yeah, I'm really worried about us being investigated over a bid Spurs made public. Sure.
Blobby

you can have the little shit and add him to your team of mercenaries.. for a nice big fee of course
TWH

You won't get him now, he'll be sold abroad or even to United/City now your underhand tactics have pissed off Levy - he's a chairman who you don't mess with.