Real Madrid agree to sign Modric from Tottenham

Madrid: Real Madrid have agreed to sign Croatia playmaker Luka Modric from Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year contract as the stuttering Spanish champions look to tap into his guile and creativity to get their season back on track.

"Real Madrid CF and Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Luka Modric, who will remain tied to the club for the next five seasons," Real said on their website on Monday.

Tottenham, who also confirmed the deal on their site, said it was subject to a medical and included a partnership agreement for the two clubs to work together "in respect of players, coaching, best practices and commercial relationships".

While neither club gave financial details, Spanish media reported Real would pay 35 million euros (Dh161 million), plus a possible seven million euros in add-ons, for Modric, who joined Spurs from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008.

The 26-year-old’s arrival in the Spanish capital may help Real put a poor start to the season behind them, during which they have taken one point from two La Liga outings and lost Thursday’s first leg of the Spanish Super Cup 3-2 at Barcelona.

They crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at city rivals Getafe on Sunday, which prompted a rare burst of public criticism of his underperforming players from coach Jose Mourinho.

Real have a chance to get their season back on track in Wednesday’s Super Cup return leg at the Bernabeu when Modric could make his debut.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who fought off bids from Chelsea and Manchester United for the fan favourite a year ago, said he was reluctant to let Modric leave.

Modric himself said last year he wanted to move to Chelsea but Levy blocked any deal with the club’s London neighbours.

"Luka has been a terrific player for us and, while we preferred not to part with him, we are pleased that it is to Real Madrid, a club with which we now look forward to sharing a long and productive partnership," Levy said in a statement.

Modric joined Tottenham from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008 for £16.5 million (Dh96 million) and after initially playing as a defensive midfielder, became a key element in the club’s resurgence under former manager Harry Redknapp.