Luka Modric claims Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has gone back on his word by failing to allow the Croatian midfielder to join Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Tottenham rejected a 22 million pound bid from their London neighbours for Modric last month with Levy again telling the player he was not for sale during a meeting on Thursday.
In quotes attributed to the newspaper Sportske Novosti in Croatia, Modric apparently admitted his surprise at Levy’s determination to keep him.
“I haven’t thought about it at all because [not selling me] would definitely not be good for anyone. I have already told the chairman that last summer he said we would find a mutually satisfactory agreement if a club like Chelsea came in.
“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.”
Modric went on to claim that Levy will be happy to leave the player in the reserves if he refuses to honour his contract.
“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 reminded the chairman of our gentleman’s agreement when we were in Dubrovnik last summer and I agreed a contract extension with Tottenham.
“Then 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.
“The chairman said, ‘OK, we’ll sit and talk [about any offers]’. 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.”
Modric claims he is determined to join Chelsea and is wanted by the Stamford Bridge club’s new manager Andre Villas-Boas.
“There is no doubt that Chelsea want me they sent a concrete offer to Tottenham. I know that the new Chelsea boss 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,” said Modric.
“It wasn’t a snap decision, I talked a long time with my family and people whose opinions I respect. I thought about it, weighed it all up, and finally decided this was the best option.”
-With The Daily Star input
