Former Tottenham Hotspur player Niko Kranjcar has blasted Spurs chairman Daniel Levy for his handling of the Luka Modric situation.

Modric has been holding out for a move to Real Madrid, with Levy expecting the Spanish club to pay full value for his player, understood to be £40 million ($62 million).

The Croatian refused to travel for the club's pre-season tour of the U.S., and after a couple of no-shows to training, apologized to the club for his behavior, which was condemned by both Levy and new coach Andre Villas-Boas.

Modric's national team-mate Kranjcar, who moved to Dynamo Kiev recently, however, has accused Levy of backing out of a promise made to the playmaker. "I know that the chairman talked to (Modric) face to face last autumn," Kranjcar is quoted as saying in the Mirror. "He promised Luka he would let him go, and now he's condemning him.

"Levy did everything to protect the interest of the club and make a profit. He has also used lies to deceive the public, which is allowed in business, but if you were in Luka's shoes, you would probably do the same as him.

"To have an offer from Real Madrid is a once-in-a-career opportunity. I'd do anything to get to Santiago Bernabeu, playing for Real Madrid is the greatest privilege in any footballer's career, even if I prefer Barcelona. That's why I understand Luka."

Kranjcar, who found first-team opportunities hard to come by over the last couple of years at Spurs, also criticized the club's handling of his transfer situation.

"In my three years at White Hart Lane, I never had lunch or a serious talk with the president," the former Portsmouth midfielder said. "There was no need. It's not customary for bosses to invite you for a cup of coffee, even if you're their next-door neighbour like I was, in Cuffley.

"I know from my own experience how difficult these people are and how hard it is to break out of a contract with them.

"Remember Berbatov? And it was the same with me: they held me back for two years, until finally my new club paid what they were asking and not a pound less.

"That is their speciality. They set unreasonably high transfer demands, but the absurd thing is they always get what they ask for.

"Kiev is not London, but it is very good for city life, and the teams are very strong. Dynamo Kiev is big on tradition and the fans, and though lots of people will say it's not like Tottenham, if you look at history, Dynamo Kiev is a bigger club than Spurs."