The biggest transfer saga of the summer was finally completed after Tottenham Hotspur announced the sale of Luka Modric to Real Madrid.
Modric has been agitating for a transfer all summer, even refusing to board the plane for Spurs' preseason tour. The Croatian midfielder had been asked to train by himself since the start of the season, until an agreement could be reached with Real.
It is believed Modric, who will sign a five-year contract, is moving to Madrid for a transfer fee in the region of £30 million ($47.5 million) with Spurs also announcing a partnership agreement with the Spanish giants as a part of the deal.
"The club can announce that it has signed a partnership agreement with Real Madrid FC and reached agreement for the transfer of Luka Modric, subject to medical, to the Spanish club," Spurs said in a statement on their official website.
"The partnership agreement will see the two clubs working together in respect of players, coaching, best practices and commercial relationships."
Modric will be relieved to finally see the transfer go through, as the Croatian's future was left in limbo, with the season well underway. The talented 26-year-old playmaker is expected to go right into the Real squad, once he proves his fitness, with Real manager Jose Mourinho the biggest factor in bringing the midfielder to the Bernabeu.
"The strong relationship and affinity between our two clubs has resulted in the cementing of a longer-term partnership and the successful transfer of Luka Modric," Real president Florentino Perez said. "We are delighted to welcome Luka and look forward to working closely with Tottenham in the coming years."
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy added: "Luka has been a terrific player for us and, whilst 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."
Modric made 160 appearances for Spurs, netting 17 goals after joining from Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb in 2008.
Andre Villas-boas will now look to use the Modric money to complete a couple of signings, with Shakhtar Donetsk winger Willian and French forward Loic Remy reportedly on the Spurs manager's radar. Shakhtar has already reportedly rejected a bid from Spurs for the Brazilian.
