Revealed: Luka Modric and Swansea Metropolis, the complete story – Actual Madrid legend’s function in transfers, how membership satisfied him to take a position …and can he be becoming a member of their midfield?

You needed to test the date to make sure it wasn’t an April Idiot.

‘Hello Swansea followers, I’m Luka Modric and I’m excited to be a part of the journey,’ learn the replace on the midtable Championship membership’s web site.

This was a rub-your-eyes second for the Jack Military. A Ballon d’Or winner, Actual Madrid’s most adorned star with 28 main trophies and a veteran of 186 Croatia caps, becoming a member of Swansea as an investor and co-owner.

‘That is an thrilling alternative, Swansea has a powerful identification, an unbelievable fanbase and the ambition to compete on the highest stage,’ the Croat continued, whereas holding a Swansea-branded soccer.

The query that instantly sprung to thoughts is why on earth Modric was investing in Swansea, as he grew to become the newest in a string of superstar homeowners in UK soccer that features NFL legend Tom Brady (Birmingham), actor Michael B Jordan (Bournemouth), Gary Neville and David Beckham (Salford Metropolis), and, three hours up the highway this aspect of the border, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney (Wrexham).

However Mail Sport can reveal this partnership was a very long time within the making, and may be traced again to November final 12 months.

The turbulent reign of Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan had come to an finish, with Individuals Brett Cravatt, Andy Coleman, Jason Cohen and Brit Nigel Morris taking a majority shareholding in Swansea. Cravatt and Cohen have spoken concerning the want for Swansea to extend income and minimize prices after the membership made a pre-tax lack of £15.2million within the final monetary 12 months, and £17.9m the 12 months earlier than.

The pair have been in search of a world-class participant to affix as an investor to boost the membership’s international profile, with chairman Coleman saying Swansea should grow to be ‘a Championship membership not doing Championship issues’.

Feelers have been put out and Modric’s long-term agent, Borja Couce, revealed his shopper was eager to grab the chance. Conversations ramped up on the finish of final 12 months, however the transfer was stored below wraps – Mail Sport understands massive numbers of membership employees weren’t even conscious one thing was brewing till a deal was close to completion.

A number of conferences have been held between Modric, Couce and Swansea’s possession over video name, and members of the membership’s hierarchy visited the Croat in Spain.

Couce got here to look at a 1-0 dwelling victory over Middlesbrough in March, earlier than being proven across the metropolis and membership’s coaching floor by CEO Tom Gorringe and director of soccer Richard Montague.

Modric, who’s leaving Actual Madrid after 13 years, had already been interested in the enterprise aspect of sport earlier than the Swansea alternative arose and is claimed to be very passionate concerning the venture and driving the membership ahead.

The 39-year-old’s precise stake is just not confirmed, although it’s understood to be an identical stage to the three.3 per cent holding Brady has in Birmingham. It provides to a portfolio that features a actual property firm in Madrid, Croatian sports activities social community Sportening and Zeppelin Craft Brewery within the metropolis of Bjelovar in his homeland.

There was an unbelievable response each internally and externally at having one of many world’s best footballers related to Swansea, with these contained in the membership mentioned to be ‘over the moon’.

He definitely suits the invoice of somebody who can elevate the membership’s profile – he has 38.1million followers on Instagram, 81 instances as many as Swansea on 467,000.

One report following his arrival claimed he had bought a home within the Gower village of Three Crosses from Swans legend Leon Britton. However Mail Sport can verify this story is inaccurate having tracked down Britton, although the previous midfielder is understandably excited at what this partnership may imply.

‘I feel it’s nice, him approaching board,’ Britton, who performed 520 instances for Swansea and was a member of the 2013 League Cup-winning aspect, tells us. ‘What he’s achieved within the sport and what he’s completed has been unbelievable, so it’s an excellent coup.

‘Any enter from him can solely have a constructive influence. Think about if you happen to have been a possible signing and obtained a name from Luka Modric outlining what the membership is trying to do and their ambitions.’

That, we will reveal, is already below means. Mail Sport understands Modric held talks with Sweden Below 21 worldwide Zeidane Inoussa final month earlier than the winger selected to affix Swansea from BK Hacken. He has additionally spoken to different targets because the membership intention to get again to the Premier League after seven years away.

Modric is worked up to share his soccer experience and though he’s but to safe a base within the metropolis, he has already made his mark. The Croat has been proven detailed plans by the membership and has taken a agency curiosity of their technique.

Membership figures consider that is the beginning of what needs to be a affluent relationship, with the message from Modric’s camp mentioned to be ‘any means he may help the membership he’ll’. He’s understood to be planning a go to to a sport and the membership’s coaching floor as quickly as his schedule permits.

After all, the largest switch Swansea may make can be to signal Modric himself. Sources in Spain mentioned he hoped to remain at Actual Madrid, nevertheless it was finally the membership’s resolution to half methods with the Croat, who desires to characterize his nation on the 2026 World Cup.

Unsurprisingly, some rumours have circulated about Modric becoming a member of Swansea. The prospect of that’s considered as extraordinarily unlikely, although insiders admit it might be one of the simplest ways to spice up the worth of his funding.

In the meantime, ever since information of Modric’s involvement was introduced, there was a buzz round Swansea and followers can barely disguise their pleasure.

Two regulars within the Railway Inn, a famend Swansea pub minutes from the stadium that’s bustling on matchdays, speak concerning the surreal nature of the link-up and consider solely good issues can come up. There’s a related feeling in Rossi’s, the well-known fish and chips store reverse the bottom, and Dafydd Weaver, one supporter who stops for a chat outdoors the membership store, sums up the temper.

‘I couldn’t consider it,’ he says about first seeing information of Modric’s funding. ‘I by no means thought one thing like this is able to occur and also you by no means count on it to occur to your membership. Welsh soccer is the place to be on the minute with Wrexham and now us. Individuals are buzzing and everybody’s speaking about it so it’s thrilling to see the way it pans out.’

Adrian and Keogh Kiernan, father and son who’ve season tickets, share an identical feeling. ‘It was a pinch-me second,’ Keogh explains, simply as one other extra pessimistic fan within the background overhears our dialog and interjects: ‘It could actually’t get any worse’.

‘Having top-of-the-line midfielders of this technology as a part of our membership is simply surreal,’ Keogh continues. ‘You look again and go, “oh my God” so it’s nice for the membership. It’s nice timing as nicely with the membership’s current historical past. We would have liked that form of kickstart to get issues going once more.’

Swansea shirts with Modric’s identify on the again have already confirmed widespread and the arrival of a world famous person is anticipated to have non-footballing impacts, too.

Torsten Bell, Labour MP for Swansea West, explains: ‘His backing of the Swans is an actual vote of confidence within the membership and town itself and I am excited to see the potential Modric’s involvement unlocks within the years forward.’

On the pitch, it has been 4 years since Swansea misplaced within the Championship play-off remaining to Brentford and so they have barely flirted with a return to the Premier League since throughout a tough interval.

Issues got here to a head final November when simply 12,869 attended their 1-0 dwelling win over Watford. Attendances within the early a part of this 12 months have been the bottom they’ve been in additional than a decade, with supervisor Luke Williams dropping his job amid a torrid run.

Insiders communicate of a sense of ‘apathy’ however interim head coach Alan Sheehan’s influence on the again finish of the marketing campaign – successful seven of 13 video games to complete eleventh, seven factors off the play-offs, kind that noticed him handed the job on a everlasting foundation – coupled with the arrival of Modric has given the membership a shot within the arm.

There’s a real feeling good instances are on their means again, with a sprinkling of Galactico gold mud on the Gower.