28 Aug 2012

Real finally get their man

5:43 am on 28 August 2012

Spanish football champions Real Madrid have signed Croatia midfielder Luka Modric from London Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for a reported $54 million.

Modric passed a medical before signing a five-year contract.

The 26-year-old joined Spurs in 2008 for $32 million, making 160 appearances and scoring 17 goals after joining from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2008.

Tottenham also confirmed the deal, and says a partnership agreement has been signed for the two clubs to work together on players, coaching, best practices and commercial relationships.

While neither club gave financial details, Spanish media reported Real would pay $54 million, plus a possible $10.8 million in add-ons, for the 26-year-old, who joined Spurs from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008.

Modric has been keen to leave White Hart Lane since the end of last season, but Real's attempts to sign him have been frustrated by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's demands for a fee of around $61 million.