Exclusive footage of Daniel Levy and Luka Modric in 'angry' meeting
Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 3:01PM Another day, more love lost with regards to that once innocent fairy-like dinking Barca-like conductor of our midfield, Luka Modric. How quickly ones perception of someone can change. Very little can be lost in translation this time round.
I'm referring to his interview with the Croatian press (translated by ESPN and others) which makes it sound like he's already going to bed wearing a Chelsea shirt. Suddenly, Harry Redknapp's 'confused' comments from the other day appear to be quite relevant. Seems the gaffer doesn't hold too much faith in the player remaining with us post-season kick-off. Hence his continued disassociation with Levy's fair more sterner stance on the matter.
Seems to all hinge on this 'agreement' chairman and player made when the contract was signed. Player seems to think we should be negotiating no matter the derisory valuation on offer. My money is still on the chairman to be victorious. Although victorious might actually translate into a couple of things.
For now, this saga is not going to stop running any time soon.
Reader Comments (101)
hahahahaha!!! Awesome!! Loved it.
Much as i admire Levy's' resolve i'm starting to increasingly believe that it may be best for all if we just let him go - subject to our valuation being met of course.
I still don`t understand - if there was an agreement that if a `Big Club`was to come in for him that they would discuss it mutually then why on earth wasn`t it written in to his new contract or a minimum fee clause that so many players have these days? Rather than a he said she said scenario which quite frankly is becoming a joke and is distracing not only Modric but I am sure all the other players at the club. Levy has now backed himself into a corner whereby it isn't any good for anyone - much as we would love to see the principle of a player under these circumstances playing for the youth team (as we no longer have reserves) or sit in the stands. It would send out the message that Spurs aren't to be messed around with but it would also make great players think twice about signing for us in the first place - being honest here we aren't a top 4 team right now we have no realistic ambitions in the Champions League ( should we even get back into it next year) so we are stuck picking up good players that we hope will develop into great ones - Modric, Berbatov, Carrick and unfortunately the nature of our station in the game right now means we are a feeder club for champions league contenders. Until we can build a team that is percieved as perennial contenders this will unfortunately always be the case.
1437: FOOTBALL - BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty understands there was no agreement between Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and Luka Modric that the midfielder could leave if the right club came in for him when he signed his new contract. Full story to follow on BBC Sport website.
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Someone is telling fibs.
I find it strange that the Arry interview with Sky Sports after training has been taken off their website...
Levy will never admit that there was a verbal agreement in place.
Modric is stupid to think that anything verbal would ever end up coming to fruition.
If the translation is correct, then we need to get shot of him as soon as possible, before he becomes a disruption in the squad.
No player is EVER bigger than the club and, as we saw before with Carrick, Keane and Berbatov, we will continue to progress without him.
That said, would rather he was sold abroad than stay in the Premiership and torment us.
Love the way Luka thinks he can move 'as soon as a concrete offer comes in'. Doesn't matter how low it is, doesn't matter that the offer has been laughed at by both his manager and chairman. Kia Joorabchian tells Modd to have a moan and Chavski will jump in and save him for what ever amount suits them....lol Mugdric!
Stick him in the reserves if he refuses to play (yeah, I don't care that we don't have a reserves).
Fact is Luka, this issue isn't about you, it's bigger than you....this is about THFC not losing their players to teams who tap-up. This is about players who are told to throw a strop by representatives of other clubs in order to renege on a contract, this is about the lack of ethics in football. You...and this will hurt your ego I'm sure, are just a little man, a pawn in a much bigger game, a game that Levy wants to win.
"Seems to all hinge on this 'agreement' chairman and player made when the contract was signed."
Nope.
If it's not in the contract that was signed, then it's irrelevant. If Modric wanted it to be relevant, then he should have insisted on its inclusion in the contract, and threatened to refuse to sign it otherwise. Clearly he didn't do this. You don't sign a contract and have a separate gentleman's agreement at the same time. That is pointless and not worth the paper it's not written on.
Whinge away Luca.
Daniel: Fine him two weeks' wages for his outburst.
Everyone else: Ignore the spoilt little brat.
John White, I salute you!
regardless if there is or isnt a gentlemens agreement. just because they said they would discuss it if an offer came, doesnt mean it has to result in his favor.
plus, its business kid, put it in writing. "business is business, money is money, i never said we were friends".
Learn your lesson while you sit on the bench in the reserves, while spurs get a couple of strikers and finish above chelsea.
Why can't we report Chelsea over this?
Their initial offer was rejected PRIVATELY by letter by Levy. Chelsea then made this public. Surely that's a form of tapping up? Why did they need to make it public?
That was the point. Where is the clause if it meant so much to him and his agent? But he can't stop banging on about this like it's relevant and he has the upper hand in engineering a move away.
He must think he's doing Chelsea a favour, sort of tapping himself up.
I say let him rot on the bench. He either honors his contract one way or the other. In the end it'll be Modric who suffers the most by losing his most productive years sitting on his ass and that's fine by me. Mutually assured destruction was always a favorite strategy of mine in all spheres of life.
I'm sick of football players acting like children and not adults when they sign contracts.
Either that or Levy announces in a public statement, "Ladies and gentleman. The bidding begins at 80M GBP." Let's see which of these fatcat teams really wants that little Bilbo Balkin bullshitter's ass. Sure, it'd make Levy go back on his words but to hell with it. If modern football is really a business then words mean nothing and money means everything, so let's see THFC do it right and maximize income to rent some more talent.
Honestly, I'm beginning to view soccer (yep, I'm a yank) like Sonny in the movie "A Bronx Tale" views baseball.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzf11Nc-cd0
IMnotsoHO, THFC needs to be more like Sonny in the bar fight scene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2PXb7xKhcI&feature=related
Do the business equivalent once or twice to some prima donna talent and get a reputation as a club not to be trifled with by child-men players, although I'm not sure that strategy would carry over to the "beautiful game" circa 2011. Like I said I'm a yank; I didn't grow up watching the details of the business.
Really I'm just bitter because last season I brought a Modric jersey and had it shipped over the pond because I liked his style. That cost quite a bit of money. I actually thought the little punk was a stand-up guy. Lesson learned.
Totally had it with this guy now. Was happy thinking he might give it one more year but he then goes talking to the croation press. Get him out now for as much money as we can get then maybe we can't move on and bring some players in. No player is worth the name of are club being dragged through the mud. I can't blame him for wanting out for more money and CL football but want I can't take is him claiming Chelsea are a much bigger club. Get him out now.
The only gentlemen's agreement I recognize from this whole ordeal is the one that appears to be between Chelsea and Modric in order for Chelsea to get him at the best possible price. Stick him on the reserves squad.
The issue here isn't whether or not they had a chat.
It's Modric's strange belief that because Chelsea have mad a bid, that we should bend over and get arse-raped.
The deal has to be mutually beneficial, and if the little twit thinks that any bid of less than £40+ is beneficial to Levy, he's just stupid.
Don't panic. Buy lorente for 20-25m I think that deal is possible and good value. Then sell the muggy twat to Chelsea for 30m plus sturridge. Hudd, sandro, and vdv can play centre and so can nico. We must buy before modric goes cos if clubs know we have 35m then they will inflate the prices
Well said John White! If we back down to Modric we will just show that we are a selling club. If Modric leaves so does Bale and I expect Harry too. He has one great season and now he wants out. Well it's tough my little friend. You're under contract and you need to accept Levy's decision and move on. 22m from Chelsea is an insult. Levy don't give in and to be honest he can't now. Not after the statement that was made. It is crucial he stays. The Gooner up the road didn't behave like this did he? He will get over it. Give it some time and if he is dropped to the reserves (Which we have every right to do) he will soon come round and want to play.
In fact Levy shouldn't even respond to the latest comments from Luka. Just ignore it. It will work.
let him rot.make a example of him.bosman is slowly destroying the game.
Stick to your guns levy. Let luka come to his senses or rot
i do remember last year when he signed that it was a long contract with a gentleman's agreement that we would listen if a big club came in with a mega bid. We must have said the same thing to Bale as well. Do the business on the pitch and if someone bids silly money then we'll discuss it with you.
Personally, i would prefer it if we phoned up Barca and offered Luka in exchange for a couple of their players. He gets to go to a proper big club and we get a better squad.
What like Messi and Alves? Don't think Barca are interested. Cesc is going this week for 35m. They don't need any more midfield players.
Contracts have got to start meaning something, levy got it spot on, it's about time the clubs have the power back and not the players. This is a make or break situation in more ways then one if we make him stay it could be the start of the reversal of player power! And as said before if he carries on mouthing off bench him till he stops sulking. Getting pretty sick of the papers blowing it up all the time as well and the situation in general
It's becoming clear that this story is going to run and run now (unfortunately). I'm finding this 'gentleman's agreement' difficult to get my head round. Since when have big, multi million pound, 6 year contracts contained gentleman's agreements.
I can understand why Levy wouldn't want such an agreement to be made official but if it was so important to Luka (as it now seems) then why did he or his agent not have it written into the contract.
The most disappointing thing is that Modric now appears to be 'pulling a Tevez', where by he moans like a spoilt child who isn't getting his own way to anybody in the world's press who will listen. It is the worst kind of betrayal.
I admire Levy's for digging his heels in and I hope he continues to do so but I'm beginning to get the feeling for one reason or another, it won't be Modric's names we all have inscribed on the back of our nice new Spurs shirts next season.
My word, my father always used to say to me " beware of a silver tongue ". Modric's shallow words last season seem a long way off now. I hope Levy plays a really hard ball over this one otherwise the player , press and rival club emerge victorious again. Surely we've learnt our lesson by now from the Carrick and Berba episodes. We sold them and all they did was haunt us with numerous victories over us. Stop selling to rival clubs and that might just stop!
Yep we just need to refuse to talk about it as a club and fans really. It will blow over. As Levy said this matter is closed now. We should be worrying about the lack of players we have bought or sold to be honest. I want some firepower brought in and a top defender please.
Justa thought - what does he say to the other players in training - "Sorry guys but you just aren't good enough to play with me anymore??"
Economics will dictate the outcome of this. In the 1960's Spurs were at the top table and didn't sell their best players. Until the new stadium is built and equity financed - without masses of new external debt - we will always be just a step away from the top table. The provision of new stadia comes outside of the financial fair play regime, so anyone looking to 'grow' a football club in the future could hardly chose better than a relatively cheap site(Tottenham) in a city like London and with a history and fan base like Spurs.
Tough shit modric, we paid a club record fee for you, you signed a 6year contract so deal with it. Maybe if you had scored a few of the many sitters you missed last season we would have cl.
Did modric play against the chavs last year, they had 3non goals against us and were lucky and if our strikers were half decent we would of finished above them, thats why they panicked and brought torres and luiz.
Chelsea a bigger club my arse. Sell him to that new russian team with money i say, but not to chelsea or another english team.
Love Malcom Tucker's 'Mutually Assured Destruction'. The logic runs that we should sell Modders because it makes no sense keeping him around anymore. Well, I say it does. So what if no one's broken this menace of player-power yet? Let's be the goddamned first. Keep him, stick him in the reserves for five bloody years, and then let him leave. It's about time someone showed this arrogant little brats that when they sign a contract that pays them thousands and thousands of pounds a week, they damn well better honour it and not whinge and moan for a move at the first sign of interest from someone with a bigger paycheck. He signed the deal. He honors it, whether by representing the first-team or the reserves. His choice. It may harm us as a club, but in the long run it will aid us when it comes to dealing with little gits like Luka.
Filthy Luka. That's what it's all about. Surely it's time to redress the balance? I say if a player gets shirty and goes "on strike" (like Berbatoss) then the club has every right to sue them for breach of contract (and loss of merchandise sales and any other extras). Should be the same for players who issue "come and get me" quotes to the press. Football should be about the fans, the clubs and then the players - in that order.
Got to wonder who his new missus is, because the timing of all this is quite interesting...
Great video.
"What, just because I'm Jewish I can't possibly know any pigs socially?" Brilliant.
And I swear I didn't watch it before I made my Bilbo comment re: vid's the LOTR reference. Great minds think alike and all that.
We're with you Mr Levy, if we can pay Bentley and dos Santos wages for doing nothing, then we can do the same for Mr Modric.
In a civil court (or any other court) a contract is a contract as long as both parties agreed!
If a concrete offer really did come in for Luka, then we should sell him . As long as it's enough concrete for us to build a new stadium.
"If a concrete offer really did come in for Luka, then we should sell him . As long as it's enough concrete for us to build a new stadium."
Zing!
"you'll let me leave?"
"of course, just sign this 6 year contract..."
/\ The simplistic evil genius of Levy /\
Well, filthy Luka is showing his true colours. Get rid of him for the right price or stick him in the stands for good!! And Cheatski???...........shouldnt they be "done" for tapping up yet another player ?? Looks to me like my Spurs will never achieve a regular top four because we simply wont be able to hold on to our real class players...I firmly believe that the media, especially Sky Sports and so called footbal pundits, play a big part in this- - seems like their reports/opinions etc, on these affairs always have a bias towards "top 4 " clubs.
I'm with Big Fish on this one. Sue the fucker forr breach of contract if he gobs off again.
My disappointment in the possible departure of Luka is now outweighed by my disappointment in the actions of Luka.
If a 6 year contract counts for F-All then sure a gentlemans agreement counts for even less. Someone needs to remind him of that!
Luka expect Spurs to willingly hold to their "spoken agreement" while breaking his written legally binding agreement.
My heart has sunk. I never thought he would stoop to Bulgarian levels of betrayal. The whole " the chairman broke a promise and was nasty to me" routine is a pathetic attempt to force a way out.
Et tu Luka?
Trouble is, Levy is a businessman and Spurs is a business. In the end we can't afford to lose £30m+ quid. It makes me sick but now I think he'll go. Please God not to Chelscum tho. Shit
Do we even have a reserves anymore???? Send him on loan to charlton..
Lord of the Rings. Golden
If I was levy I wouldn't let him rot on the bench. It's a waste of 40m. I would however play hard ball, make him put in a transfer request, and basically make him look the biggest nob ever ie on a level of hatred shown towards Campbell. That way young bale may think twice about following suit. He must understand that he can be legend at spurs and not just another player like berbatov at utd. I'd player for spurs for free. £45k a fucking week. I just don't understand why these idiots get an inflated feeling of self importance. I amazed that modric really feels he is being hard done by. Fucking idiot
If a player is any good and he signs a long contract, it just makes the transfer fee bigger. If the contract is running out, the transfer fee falls.
SSN. Spurs say theres no agreement ! Sell the tapped up little twat abroad, even if its for less money.
all this talk of our midfield maestro wanting to play for a BIG club is utter rubbish. SPURS are a huge club mate and with a couple of good additions will challenge every club all the way in each competition we play in this season. So lets stop this BIG club chat and focus on what really is the issue here, MONEY!! I appreciate that he wants to play CL football cos so do we. Up his salary for one season and if we dont make the CL next season then let him go for 40million. Just in case he has forgotten we were not in the CL until last season so you can hardly say that its what he's used to. Stop moaning , get on with your job and improve your footballing ability to help increase your value. END OF .... COYS xx
Lad needs a good fucking slap.
Sign a SIX year, yes SIX year contract not six month and then say you have a verble agreement to get out of it after SIX MONTHS!!! Yeah right.