The Lead
After months of careful negotiation, a giant organization with near-infinite resources has come to a financial agreement with a small but plucky institution run by a man named Levy to purchase a prize asset. Moreover, as part of the deal the two groups will form a partnership to share best practices and develop a commercial relationship.
I’m speaking of course *ahem* of Real Madrid’s acquisition of Croatian midfield playmaker Luka Modric from North London club Tottenham Hotspur for a humble fee of £33 million, according to the Daily Mail:
Spurs will receive £27m from Real, plus another £6m in various add-ons.
The fee is a blow for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who was holding out for a figure in the region of £35m-plus.
The news comes at an interesting moment for both clubs, although the timing can’t have pleased some Spurs fans what with five days left in the summer transfer window for the club to take serious advantage of the giant sack of coin. The Guardian however posits that Tottenham plan to make immediate use of the windfall:
The money raised from the Modric deal will fund Spurs’ pursuit of the Brazilians Willian of Shakhtar Donetsk and Internacional’s Leandro Damião.
For Real Madrid supporters, the news will help allay fears that the clubs are on a downward spiral with a 3-2 Copa del Rey loss to Barcelona and a potentially disastrous La Liga debut: a 1-1 draw to Valencia and a 2-1 defeat to Getafe (La Liga is perhaps the only league in Europe where a loss and a draw by either of the top two clubs, even in August, can wreck an eight month title race).
The concern however will be whether Modric will enjoy an Eden Hazard-like on-the-job learning curve in Spain, and indeed if there is any room for improvement on Modric’s stellar rise in the 2011-12 Premier League season.
Time will tell, but one suspects Spurs fans will look to September to see what Andre Villas-Boas can do with a fresh squad of young players eager to move on from the past and finally, truly, punch above their weight.
But it would be remiss not to mention the real victory in all this: no more Marca Modric headlines.
Canada
Canada eliminated from the U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Toronto FC v Houston Dynamo – Game Recap
Montreal Impact v D.C United – Game Recap
Time to panic? Vancouver drops its third game in a row.
England
Spurs’ bid for Willian rejected.
Joey Barton’s back in the headlines! Midfielder opens up about QPR rift.
Tuesday’s the day for Scott Sinclair.
Kagawa aiming for more from Manchester United.
Tottenham submits bid for Yann M’Vila.
Brendan Rodgers happy with Liverpool’s performance.
Arsene Wenger confident he can rebuild Arsenal.
Surgeon shocked at Rooney’s cut.
Tevez targeting Manchester City extension.
Michael Owen’s still waiting for that Premier League offer.
Italy
Buffon not worried about new contract…will renew
Fiorentina won’t sell Stevan Jovetic.
Newly promoted Sampdoria shock Milan at San Siro.
Zeman not happy with Roma’s useless passing.
Lazio adds Michael Ciani.
Spain
Javi Martinez wants his future resolved.
Jose Mourinho criticizes his players after Getafe defeat.
Carles Puyol injury scare for Barcelona.
Milan not after a permanent deal for Kaka.
Bits and bobs
Neymar is ridiculously talented, but spending way too much money.
Mesut Ozil’s horrible miss against Getafe.
Who’s the Premier Leagues toughest manager?
Modern day Ronaldinho scores an old Ronaldinho type of goal.
Eden Hazard’s incredible stats to start the campaign.
Ewald Lienen suffered a similar gash to Rooney’s, but 30-years ago.
Vintage video of the day – George Best
Osvaldo and his awesome bicycle kick.
holy crap, was Ewald Lienen playing against freddy kruger? is there a doctor in the house? how about a seamstress with some high tension thread?
Great first paragraph lmao