Modric completes Real move

Croatian puts finishing touches to move from Tottenham

Luka Modric has finalised his switch to Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur after passing a medical with the Spanish club and signing a five-year contract.

Spurs announced earlier on Monday that a deal had been struck with Real for the sale of Modric as part of a partnership agreement between the clubs.
The Croatian has now put the finishing touches on his move after coming through his physical assessment with no trouble and penning a long-term contract until 2017.

The deal is understood to be worth at least £33million and Modric is delighted to have joined Real.

"I'm very happy, honoured and proud to be at the biggest and best club in the world. I'm very excited," said the 26-year-old.

odric had made it clear that he wanted to leave Tottenham but he remains thankful to the London club for everything they did for him.

He is now looking forward to a fresh challenge, though, and hopes to play a major part in Real's pursuit of major honours.

"I have to work very hard to earn a spot in the starting eleven and I'm prepared to do it," he said.

"I've come here to improve every day and to win titles with Real Madrid. These are my personal goals.

"I believe I have what it takes to play here. I've got everything I need and I want to enjoy football and to learn.

"I'm grateful to Tottenham, but I'm now opening a new page in my life."

"When I first heard Madrid were interested, nothing else mattered," Modric said. "I just wanted to come here, this is the best club in the world, with the best coach, and great players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria ... so many great players. I am looking forward to playing with them. It is an honour to be here and my desire is to win trophies with Madrid."

The Croatia international said that spending most of the summer training alone as talks between Spurs and Madrid continued had been frustrating, but he was now delighted with how things had ended up.

"Everything started before the Euros," Modric said. "It was hard as I wanted to be here (Madrid) as soon as possible, but sometimes negotiations go on longer than expected. Now I am very happy to be here. Of course it has been a tough time, almost one month without training fully with a team, but finally it has been done."