Daniel Levy is one of the most notoriously difficult businessmen to negotiate with and Luka Modric has just related a story which showed how determined he his to protect his interests, even against the Russian billionaires.
Modric spent four years on the books of Tottenham before joining Real Madrid, however, after his third year, he could have become a player of Chelsea following a meeting with the Blues’ owner Roman Abramovic at a secret location in France.
The Croatian discussed how he was whisked away to meet with the mysterious Chelsea owner at his luxury yacht off the coast of France.
Abramovic had watched as the future Ballon D’or winner impressed for their London rivals and he directly told him that he wants him to join Chelsea.
Modric admitted that he ways swayed by their approach and on his return to Spurs, the Blues made multiple bids for his signature, but Daniel Levy turned them all down.
Modric would eventually be forced to spend another year at Spurs before leaving for Real Madrid.
He told The Guardian: “It was all very exciting.
“Twenty or so people, who seemed part of the security detail, met us at the boat.
“It was quick and well organised; just as we made ourselves comfortable on one of the luxury decks, Abramovich showed up.
“I was fascinated by the discreet disappearance of all the security people just as he arrived. It was obvious they were well trained – their timing was perfect.
“During our meeting on the Côte d’Azur, he left an impression of a relaxed, somewhat mysterious person.
“He wasn’t beating around the bush and said: ‘We know you are a quality player. I’d like you to sign for Chelsea.'”
Abramovich may have bought success and snapped up whatever player he wanted using his billions but it is clear that one man he could not intimidate with his money was Daniel Levy.
Wasn’t he looking to buy us but bought them in the end instead. A lot of people would have taken the money and we would have won stuff by now but such a fkin crooked Cnut.
Well, it wasn’t a question of intimidating Levy, it was a question of Abramovic illegally tapping up Modric and thinking he could buy whatever he wanted. Levy wasn’t about to be screwed by Abramovic and couldn’t be bribed into selling our best player (at that time) to a hated rival. If Levy had accepted Abramovic’s blood money, he would have lost all credibility both with Spurs fans and with regards to his own reputation.
As for breaking his word to Modric, no he didn’t. In Modric’s own words Levy said he would allow him to move to a bigger club. Well he did, Real Madrid. Chelsea, not being a bigger club, merely having a wealthier owner, didn’t count. In fact one might go so far as to say that Levy was protecting Modric from the delusion that he would be signing for a bigger club!
Funny old world ain’t it, from memory he stayed, knuckled down for the season then left for RM. So all the cosying up came to nothing for the Russian leech.
For all of you quoting Modric in the Ndumbpy saga – it ain’t going to work like that. Ndump is poison.
He’s a crook. Chelsea blood cups. Joe/levy all day long than them
They should never have allowed him to own a club in this country. It’s corrupt, pure and simple. People are beig very naive to say the least if they think he accumulated his fortune in a fair and decent manner. Those who benefitted the most from the break up of the Soviet state were almost invariably mafia types.
I’m starting to think we’ll pull something out of the bag this window. I gotta feeling. Levy’s usual tactics aided by the pandemic might just work in our favour this time. If ever it were going to work it’s in this window.
Selling herbs in down town kingston
Like gambling on a riverboat on the Missisippi?
Not if your Russian and have paid millions into the tory governments coffers for years.
apparently not!
Doesn’t “tapping up” count at sea