Luka Modric said his failed transfer to Chelsea from Tottenham in 2011 proved to be a blessing in disguise, ultimately leading to a legendary career at Real Madrid. The Croatian midfielder reflected on the saga during an appearance on the Neuspjeh prvaka show.

Modric publicly expressed his desire to join Chelsea in the summer of 2011. Tottenham rejected multiple bids from the Blues, with chairman Daniel Levy making it clear the club would not sell.

The midfielder joined Real Madrid a year later and spent 13 seasons at the club. He won a record 28 titles with Madrid and claimed the 2018 Ballon d'Or before joining AC Milan this season.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have said so publicly that I wanted to leave," Modric said. "Even so, I did very well at Tottenham. They were very tough on me, and the chairman, Daniel Levy, made it crystal clear in our first meeting [that] there was absolutely no chance they would let me go."

Modric continued performing at a high level after Chelsea's rejected bids. Tottenham finished fourth that season while Chelsea won the Champions League.

"I wanted to go, even though I knew it was going to be very difficult," he added. "In the end, it didn't happen, and I kept playing, and it was perhaps one of my best seasons."

The midfielder believes staying at Tottenham for another year opened the door to Real Madrid.

"The season was phenomenal, and a year later, an even better opportunity came along," Modric said. "And in the end, it worked out even better; probably if I had joined to Chelsea, I wouldn't have gone to Real Madrid."

Modric made over 150 appearances for Tottenham after joining from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008 for £16.5 million ($22 million). The rivalry between the London clubs complicated the potential transfer to Chelsea.