Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric could have been a Newcastle United player in 2007, if owner Mike Ashely did not pull the plug on the transfer, according to the former Magpies manager Sam Allardyce.
In his new autobiography ‘Big Sam’, Allardyce claims that he had a deal to bring the Croatian playmaker to St James’ Park lined up, but the owner pulled the plug on the deal when he saw the debts that the North East club had.
Instead, Allardyce signed utility man Geremi from Chelsea as a cheaper option to help fill the void in his squad.
In an extract from his book, Allardyce said:
I was then on the way to getting Luka Modric from Dinamo Zagreb, but by then, Mike saw the scale of the full debt and put the clamps on, so I had to make do with Geremi from Chelsea.
Modric, of course, ended up signing for Tottenham, and then La Liga giants Real Madrid.
This news will only add to the annoyance and anger that Newcastle fans have towards the club’s owner.
To miss out on a potentially world-class midfielder in order to sign a cheaper, less productive player is just another reason for the fans to have animosity towards Ashley.
