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La Liga News: Real Madrid Sign Luka Modric
August 27, 2012
Well here we are again fellow Spurs fans. It's the 'silly Season' for transfer stories, and we have not had such a doozie like this Modric saga since Dimitar Berbatov had an all-nighter with Daniel Levy and Alex Ferguson. Real Madrid have seen a 'final offer' of €35 million (£28 million or $50 million for U.S. fans) accepted for the lynchpin of Spurs' midfield, Luka Modrić (via ESPN).
I'm only slightly unsure about where I stand with this situation.
We are soon to be rid of an unhappy player, so that there's no mass disruption within the changing rooms. Well, maybe Van Der Vaart and Sandro would still duel with twisted-up towels, but I'm talking about disruption of the team's morale. The money, whatever may be agreed [estimated to be over £30m] would go some way towards equipping us with the gap we have upfront. The space between Peter Crouch's legs used to account for that until he signed for Stoke. Adebayor is more of a holding centre forward than an actual striker, Defoe cannot possibly fill the striker position every game, and many fans still don't trust Kane and Coulibaly as far as they can throw them—although, the youth players' 6-0 mauling of Southend United should have curried some more favour with fans.
Maybe Modric's transfer money could then be put in Daniel Levy's Very Rainy/Flooded Day Fund, instead. Many say at least one more striker is required to increase options upfront. They are correct.
I'm here to offer some 'retrospective views' on this Modric deal.
I'm struggling to see why Madridistas wanted Levy to accept the 'final offer' from Real Madrid to transfer Modric from one white (blanco) shirt to another. It's rather paltry considering how Spurs got the Croatian playmaker the exposure to English and European football.
The young Leandro is only worth £3million less than Madrid's previous offer for Modric which was £23m. What made the offer more insulting is the fact that the boot was on the other foot for Madrid a little while ago. Their price tag on midfielder Nuri Sahin (currently on-loan at Liverpool) put German club Hoffenheim off. Yet they expected Spurs to lower the value of Modric to suit them. They wouldn't dream of reducing Cristiano Ronaldo's value by a third, would they? Madrid seem to be using their reputation to try and push Tottenham around in the transfer market. Levy has spearheaded the defence for comparatively 'smaller' clubs who are tired of it. It seems like Madrid were in a glass house and started throwing stones.
Madrid cannot, on one end, offer heavily discounted amounts for such talented players from other clubs while hiking up prices of their own players on the other end. I think the famous English idiom of choice here is called 'having your cake and eating it too'. It's blatant hypocrisy from Real Madrid's representatives.
Madrid claim they really want Modric, but as money talks, it doesn't look like they're trying too hard. So, it seems like Modric isn't as vital to Madrid's progress as first thought. Rather, they are trying to 'peacock' their way to a cheaper price using their 'We're Real Madrid; Deal with it' mantra. They aren't exactly paupers, and would definitely pay the full asking price of £40m if they wanted Modric that desperately. The ball was in their court.
If the above theory was too conspiracy-like for you, then how about this one:
Levy was trying to ensure Spurs get what they deserve for giving him exposure to the Premier League and European (world-renowned) competitions. There are performance-bonuses which need paying to Zagreb, so that's what the extra money on top may have been for.
Also, I don't buy into this 'Modric and Levy had a gentleman's agreement' hoo-hah.
Their agreement was if Modric wanted to leave in the future for a 'bigger club', Levy would not stand in his way...but then Modric penned an improved six-year deal (doh!). Levy has allowed Madrid to negotiate a transfer for Modric. Agreement fulfilled. He didn't promise Modric that he'll be able to tie up a deal.
When a player signs a legally binding contract with the chairman, he too shall not go back on it. A contract means that the player is required to play for the team in all matches when needed unless out through injury or personal leave. I am fully aware of the theory that contracts are worth less than the paper they're written on nowadays, but it didn't give Modric the right to perpetuate it!
Modric unlawfully skipped the pre-season tour of the USA and therefore was already in breach of his contract. Levy was doing nothing apart from going by the letter of the law, upholding the legalities of it, like he would for any player of his, rather than having renegade players calling the shots and still leaving afterwards a la Berbatov.
Would you go into your boss' office calling the shots on your pay or giving him,an ultimatum on possibly leaving for a 'bigger' employer without so much as a sit-down and a chat? Yes, you'd have engineered your own sacking, but there'd be no positive reference for the next employer who takes you on...if any. Football is a business just like whatever company you may work for.
Levy, as you know, isn't one to shy away from brinksmanship and he wins most of the time. Resistance is futile. If Madrid wanted Modric so much, they would have paid the full asking price. As it stands, they are 'peacocking' about how they can have any player they want for half the price because they're Real Madrid.
Modric, thank you for your service, good luck in the future. You will need it at Madrid.
Well Madridistas, you have your wish, albeit an unnecessary one.
Good luck with asking Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira to step aside...