Former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy played a major role in stopping one ex-Spurs star from sealing what was a dream switch to Chelsea, with the player making a candid admission.
Tottenham post-Daniel Levy as problems remain at N17
It's been three months since the Lewis family decided to force Levy into resigning as Lilywhites chairman, following a topsy-turvy 25-year stint in the role.
Levy was barely ever away from the headlines and attracted plenty of criticism, particularly towards the end of his tenure, when fans turned out in droves to protest both his and ENIC's stewardship of the club.
His exit marked the end of the longest chairmanship in Premier League history, a tenure defined by extraordinary infrastructure development yet marred by agonising near-misses.
His business acumen transformed Tottenham into a financial powerhouse, culminating in the £1.2 billion Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which opened in 2019 and revolutionised the club's commercial capabilities.
Under his stewardship, Spurs competed in Europe over in 18 of the past 20 seasons, establishing themselves among England's elite despite chronic underinvestment in recruitment compared to their rivals.
The club's net spend during Mauricio Pochettino's first four years totalled just £29 million, while Tottenham infamously became the first Premier League side to complete an entire summer window without a single signing in 2018.
That cautious transfer approach became Levy's defining characteristic, and it drew fierce criticism, alongside their barren trophy haul.
Tottenham reached the Champions League final under Pochettino in 2019, only to dismiss the Argentine four months later despite Spurs' constant transfer budget restrictions.
Levy's final season proved very turbulent, with Ange Postecoglou sacked shortly after delivering Europa League glory. Fans had grown tired of the constant managerial churn without meaningful silverware, despite Levy's long list of appointments including serial winners José Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
Levy's departure triggered a major restructuring, with former Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham arriving and Thomas Frank replacing Postecoglou.
Peter Charrington assumed the newly-created non-executive chairman role to jump into Levy's stead, though in a far less involved capacity, with co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange making up the new leadership team.
Levy, despite his unpopularity among much of the fanbase, undoubtedly left a mark on Spurs which will be remembered for decades to come.
Now, ex-Tottenham favourite Luka Modrić has revealed how the former chairman stopped him from joining London rivals Chelsea.
Luka Modrić reveals Daniel Levy blocked Tottenham transfer to Chelsea
Speaking on the Neuspjeh prvaka show, via ESPN, the now-AC Milan midfielder says that he was eager to join the west Londoners, but Levy told him there was 'no chance' that Modric would be allowed to go.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have said so publicly that I wanted to leave," said Modric.
"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. After that, I carried on as if nothing had happened. I knew it would be complicated; both clubs are in London, and there's a rivalry.
"I wanted to go, even though I knew it was going to be very difficult."
The Croatia legend, who went to enjoy a fantastic season at Tottenham right afterwards, then admitted that it eventually worked out for the best.
"In the end, it didn't happen, and I kept playing, and it was perhaps one of my best seasons," he continued.
"We finished fourth; that year Chelsea won the Champions League.
"The season was phenomenal, and a year later, an even better opportunity came along. And in the end, it worked out even better; probably if I had joined Chelsea, I wouldn't have gone to Real Madrid."
Modric is now the most decorated player in his country's history after a glittering career at Real, with Levy eventually green-lighting his exit to the Bernabeu for £30 million in 2012.
The 40-year-old, who is incredibly still playing at an elite level, made over 150 appearances for Spurs, scoring 17 goals, and comes as one of the best signings of Levy's tenure for just £16.5 million from Dinamo Zagreb.