Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric has revealed Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United tried to sign him before he eventually ended up at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Croatian international signed for Los Blancos in a 35 million euro deal in the summer of 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur but revealed he had been subject of interest from the Premier League giants in the previous couple of years.
Speaking to Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport, Modrid claimed Carlo Ancelotti made an offer for him when he was manager of Chelsea. He also tried to sign Modric when he was with French side PSG last summer. Manchester United also made enquiries about signing the midfielder when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of the Old Trafford club, but Spurs refused to do business with the Red Devils.
Modric is quoted as saying: “Ancelotti wanted me. A year ago in PSG and 2011 in Chelsea. But then Andre Villas-Boas came and Tottenham did not want to give me up.”
He added: “I also knew of the interest of United and even if the transfer did not materialise, the public appreciation of a great like Sir Alex is a big pride for me.”
After moving to the Spanish capital, Modric took a while to settle, and was kept out of the team by the likes of Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil. Ironically, the turning point came in the Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford, where he scored a sensational goal to send Los Merengues through to the next round.
