In 2018 Luka was looking for new stimuli and a window opened up for the Nerazzurri to reach the Croatian who had given a general yes. But Florentino Perez…
Luka Modric could have taken a flight to Milan seven years ago. It was 2018, a year of glory and melancholy: in May the fourth Champions League lifted with Real Madrid, in July the tears of Moscow after the world final lost against France, despite the title of best player of the tournament. That summer, for the Croatian champion, had a different flavor: after six years in Madrid he was starting to reflect on the future, with a contract expiring in 2020 and a renewal that seemed far from imminent. On 10 July Juventus made Cristiano Ronaldo official, a few days later Inter began to move for Sime Vrsaljko: from that negotiation a story began to take shape destined to ignite the Nerazzurri summer and intertwine the destinies of Milan and Madrid.
negotiation
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In the summer of 2018, Inter had to deal with the financial fair play requirements and needed to generate 45 million in capital gains. With Cancelo back in Valencia, sporting director Ausilio had to find a new right back: the chosen one was Sime Vrsaljko of Atletico Madrid. The negotiation began thanks to the intermediation of Vlado Lemic, also Modric’s agent, who on 2 August was spotted at the Gallia hotel in Milan to finalize the Vrsaljko deal and, at the same time, open a window for the Croatian from Real Madrid. The idea of moving to Milan intrigued Luka. Inter thought seriously about the operation: the initial idea was a onerous loan with the right of redemption. The name of Arturo Vidal also hovered in the background: an offer worth around 20 million in total was ready for Bayern Munich. The Chilean, in the end, chose Barcelona. He went to Inter two years later.
August of fire
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That summer Inter took Lautaro, De Vrij, Asamoah, Nainggolan, Politano and the young Salcedo. The idea of joining his compatriots Brozovic, Perisic and Vrsaljko fascinated Modric, who at 32 was looking for new stimuli. August was a month of negotiations, illusions and uncomfortable truths. Thanks to the good relations with Lemic, Inter obtained a general yes from the player. But Florentino Perez took care of extinguishing the dreams: on 2 August he declared to Marca that “Modric has a 750 million clause, if someone wants it they will have to pay it”. Eight days later, As headlined: “Modric se queda”, “Modric remains”. In Milan the news fell like a meteorite, sweeping away the enthusiasm of the Nerazzurri fans. In short, the negotiation ended in the bud and entered a vortex of controversy.
accusation and acquittal
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On 14 August, Real Madrid reported Inter for allegedly violating article 18, paragraph 3, of the FIFA transfer regulations: Los Blancos accused the Nerazzurri club of having contacted Modric without warning. Two days later the official reply arrived from Milan: a two-page letter sent to Zurich by the club’s lawyers, which rejected all accusations, explaining how there had been no direct contact and that it was the player himself, through his agent, who had expressed interest in Inter. At the end of August, Florentino Perez relaunched: “Inter tried to sign Modric without paying a euro. Something never seen before.” Javier Zanetti replied diplomatically: “I haven’t read your words, but we’ll see in the appropriate places.” On September 3, FIFA put the tombstone on the matter: no investigation, unfounded accusations. Modric will only renew with Real Madrid the following year. For him, Inter will remain a midsummer temptation. Until November 23rd, then it will be something more.
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