Luka Modric was keen on joining Manchester United (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United missed out on the signing of Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric because the club’s board did not want to deal with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

The Croatia international told Rio Ferdinand in 2011 that he wanted to move to Old Trafford after the Red Devils clinched their fourth league title in five years under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Modric had sparkled at Tottenham in the previous three years since his £16m move from Dinamo Zagreb and Ferdinand was full of excitement when the Croatian told him he wanted to join him at the Theatre of Dreams.

Modric joined Real Madrid a year later, where he won the Ballon d’Or (Picture: Getty)

United were crying out for midfield enforcements but Ferdinand was taken back when he informed Ferguson of Modric’s desire as the legendary Scot did not share the defender’s enthusiasm.




After seeing little movement in the transfer window, Ferdinand took it up with David Gill, the chief executive, and the Athletic claim he explained that the Red Devils simply did not want to deal with Levy.

‘It’s the thought of having to deal with [Levy] him all summer,’ Gill told Ferdinand.

United vowed not to deal with Tottenham after lengthy negotiations for Dimitar Berbatov in 2008.

The Red Devils were Champions of Europe at the time and Berbatov was desperate to move to Old Trafford.

However, after negotiations throughout the whole window, the deal went through on deadline day when United broke their transfer record to sign the Bulgarian for ££30.75, in a deal that saw Frazier Campbell go the other way.



Spurs were similarly difficult over Michael Carrick’s move to the north-west in 2006 and Gill simply did not think Modric was worth the investment in time.

The Croatian would move to Real Madrid just 12 months later, where he’s won four Champions League titles and a Ballon d’Or.

MORE: Premier League chiefs fear next season will start behind closed doors due to coronavirus pandemic