Awol Luka Modrić faces Tottenham fine

Luka Modric

Luka Modrić will face a fine from Tottenham Hotspur after opting out of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.

The Croatian failed to report for training on Friday and wasn’t on board the plane which flew to Los Angeles on Saturday, with an angry André Villas-Boas admitting that the 26-year-old is likely to face a fine of two weeks’ wages as he looks to force through a transfer to Real Madrid.

“I think Modric is wrong,” said the new Spurs boss. “This will go against him. He has worsened the situation with what he's doing and now the chairman [Daniel Levy] is very angry.

“This is also not a good time for Daniel Levy, who is in the USA at the moment, because his wife is ill.”

Modrić sought to leave Spurs last summer, only for Chelsea – then managed by Villas-Boas – to fail to prise him away from White Hart Lane.

He has four years left to run on his contract, but with his advisors reportedly meeting with Real on Monday, Villas-Boas appears ready to admit defeat in his battle to hold on to the midfield schemer even though Spurs want an offer in the region of £40million for one of their key men. Real have so far refused to go beyond £27million.

“He's good, very good,” continued Villas-Boas. “I tried to sign him last summer for Chelsea. He will be a big loss.

“He's a player who can make the difference, who gives a lot of clarity to the play when the team needs it and who can play in several positions.”

Minus Modrić, Spurs will play matches against New York Red Bulls, fellow tourists Liverpool and Los Angeles Galaxy in America.

Mark Jones – follow me on twitter

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