Luka Modric has held his first press conference as a Real Madrid player and reflected that negotiations with Tottenham took too long.
The Croatian international midfielder's transfer from Tottenham Hotspur took some time to complete with the clubs haggling over the price and the English side keen to secure a replacement before relinquishing their grip on the player. Details were finally wrapped up last night, before its confirmation this morning.
“The transfer took too long but I'm honoured and proud to be here at the biggest and best club in the world,” Modric told the assembled Press at the Bernabeu.
“This is a big challenge for me, the biggest challenge of my footballing career. I can play in any position in midfield but my new Coach will decide.
“I've come here to improve everyday and to win titles with Real Madrid. These are my personal goals.”
Modric joins a Real side in something of a mini crisis having picked up just one point from the first six available to them in La Liga and having lost the first leg of the SuperCopa 3-2 to Barcelona.
“I watched all three games,” the former Dinamo Zagreb playmaker added. “It's not that important how you start the season but how you finish it.”
Modric will don the No 19 shirt for the Merengues.
“I'd like to thank everyone at Tottenham,” he concluded. “I spent four greats there. I'm grateful, but I'm now opening a new page in my life.”
