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Luka Modric is still probably the best central midfielder Spurs have had in decades. Once Tottenham’s record signing at £17m, he was magnificent in the center (but often wide left, thanks Harry Redknapp) of Spurs’ midfield, pulling strings for Spurs’ attackers and quietly establishing himself as Tottenham’s best player at the start of the decade in a team that included Gareth Bale.
Spurs eventually cashed in on him when it was clear that he wanted to move, first to Chelsea and then to Real Madrid. But he remains a favorite of many fans, and has established himself as one of the best midfielders in world football.
Now, he’s opened up about his old club and said to Sky Sports that he likes what he sees.
"I think Tottenham are developing in the right direction, they are doing well each year and getting better each year.
"Now they are real contenders for the title, maybe not this year, but if they keep going in the right direction, with a new training ground and new stadium, the great support, they have all the qualities around. Hopefully in the future they can win the Premier League.
"Of course that is the key for each team, to keep your best players. Now Tottenham have changed their politics a little bit and they want to keep their best players.
"That's one way to help you get to the top and win the Premier League."
So, ignoring the slight dig at Spurs being a selling club when he was there (it’s true, but the truth hurts), it’s nice to hear a former player of Modric’s caliber say nice things about his old club. I never got the sense while he was at Tottenham that Spurs fans really knew what they had in Luka.
Modric is 31 years old now and is still playing at the top levels of European football. I don’t know for how long he’ll be at Real Madrid, but I know that I would gladly take Old Man Modric back at Spurs for a few seasons as he winds down his career. A midfield three with some combination of Victor Wanyama/Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele, Harry Winks, and Modric would be fun as hell.