Recently, in an interview with the media, Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić, currently playing for AC Milan, claimed that he had wanted to join Chelsea before Real Madrid offered him a contract. Modrić spent more than a decade at the Bernabéu and won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, but he might never have joined Real Madrid if Tottenham’s then-chairman Daniel Levy had not blocked his transfer to the Blues.
In 2011, the Croatian international expressed his desire to move to Stamford Bridge to Tottenham. However, no agreement was reached between Tottenham and Chelsea, so he stayed at White Hart Lane for the 2011/12 season.
That season, Modrić performed exceptionally well individually, and Tottenham ultimately finished fourth in the league—missing out on Champions League qualification only because Chelsea, who finished sixth, won the UEFA Champions League. This was enough to convince Real Madrid to sign him for £33 million, and the rest is history for the Croatian legend at the Los Blancos.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have publicly stated that I wanted to leave,” Modrić said in the show interview, “Even so, I had a very good season at Tottenham.”
“They were tough with me. Chairman Daniel Levy made it clear at our first meeting that they would never let me go. After that, I just continued playing as if nothing had happened. I knew it would be complicated, after all, both clubs are in London and rivals.”
Ultimately, failing to move to Chelsea turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Modrić considers the 2011/12 season one of the best of his career, laying the foundation for his subsequent transfer to a club he never expected when he initially left North London.
“I had an extraordinary season, and a year later, a better opportunity came along,” he added, “In the end, the result was even better; maybe if I had joined Chelsea back then, I wouldn’t have gone to Real Madrid.”
In addition, he talked about his experience of transferring from Real Madrid to AC Milan. Modrić admitted: “After leaving Real Madrid, no matter which team you join, it’s somewhat of a step back. There’s no denying that—all players who have played for Real Madrid can deeply understand this. However, I firmly believe that AC Milan, which I have joined now, is very similar to Real Madrid in terms of historical heritage and prestige. For me, this is undoubtedly the most ideal choice. After all, I grew up watching Italian football, and Milan has always been my favorite team.”
“Everyone knows what kind of club Real Madrid is—mediocrity is never tolerated here. Being able to maintain a high level of performance at such a club for so many years is the most incredible achievement of all my accomplishments. I have always been straightforward: my deepest wish was to end my career at Real Madrid. This is not an empty statement, nor is it to flatter the fans or the club. But simply put, everything has a beginning and an end. Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as we planned.”
“When I saw my farewell ceremony at Real Madrid, it was more perfect than I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams. Everything was arranged just right, and the scene was very touching. I am actually a very emotional person, but I don’t show it much on a daily basis; I always keep my feelings deep in my heart. But in those last few days in Madrid, I was truly moved. The love from the fans, the club, and everyone associated with Real Madrid will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Modrić celebrated his 40th birthday in September and left Spain to join AC Milan this summer. Five days after his birthday, he scored against Bologna, becoming the oldest goalscorer in Serie A this season and the fourth oldest this century.
