Luka Modric says he left Tottenham for Real Madrid in order to improve as a footballer.

Luka Modric traded White Hart Lane for the Bernabeu in 2012, is set to lock horns with his former club in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Discussing the transfer, he told UEFA: “After four seasons with Tottenham, where I had grown as much as possible, I needed new challenges for the sake of improving, I couldn’t think about anything else.

“Signing for this club helped me move up to the next level. I am playing the best football of my career and feel better every day.

Playing in the Santiago Bernabeu is special. It is the best stadium I have played in and I relish each moment. I hope that I have many more years to look forward to [here].”