Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has revealed Inter Milan tried to sign Luka Modric this summer without paying for him.
Modric, who was crowned UEFA Player of the Year for 2017-18 on Thursday night has had a stellar year for club and country and that has not gone unnoticed in Milan. Inter have been in hot pursuit of Modric since the World Cup, so much so that Madrid sent an official complaint to FIFA, alleging Inter contacted the player illegally over a potential move.
In return Inter undertook legal action against La Liga president Javier Tebas, who had criticised the Serie A club’s pursuit of the 32-year-old Croatia star.
Now Perez has lifted the lid on Inter’s approach and claimed they tried to get him on the cheap.
Perez told journalists: “I’ve never seen a club want to buy our 10 without paying.
“It’s the first time this has happened to me in my life.”
Modric, who also won the Golden Ball at this summer’s World Cup, picked up the UEFA award last night after beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah to the top prize.
“I am in the best club of the world,” Modric said last night. “I want to be here.
“I am not happy, I am super happy being here, very quiet and I just like to keep working doing well things like last six years.”
The star Luka Modric insisted he is extremely happy at the European champions amid links with Inter.
Modric – who also won the Golden Ball at the World Cup in Russia after leading Croatia to the final – added: “As I already said, I am really happy to be here.
“I have been working to achieve as high as possible, so thanks to god I am here. This is the best year of my career collectively and individually, so I am really enjoying, we have to keep working.”