The longest transfer saga of the summer was finally resolved yesterday as Real Madrid completed the signing of Tottenham Hotspur's Luka Modric for around £30m.

The 26 year old Croatian midfielder passed a medical on Monday before signing a five year contract with the Spanish giants.

Modric is Madrid's star signing this summer, but despite the hefty fee paid for him, the player admitted he needed to earn his place in the side.

"I am ready for everything but, like I said, I came here to play football, to earn my place in the team. Like I said before, it is going to be hard, but I think I've got quality to play here and mister (manager Jose Mourinho) will decide how much he will use me and in which games"

During his four year stay in north London, Modric was one of the shining lights of a Spurs side that twice managed to finish in the top four and competed in their first Champions League campaign in 2010.

Modric thanked the Spurs fans and wished the club the best for the future.

"What can I say? Is just to thank, thank Tottenham, to all people in Tottenham for everything. I spent four great years there. I enjoyed every moment. I would like to thank all people that made my life and my family life easier in London. And there is no hard feelings from my, from my side. I think is the same ffom Tottenham. This is just new page in my life"

Talks had been on-going between the two clubs all summer, with Spurs chairman Daniel levy, a famously tough negotiator, agreeing a deal which sees the two clubs enter a partnership in which players and coaches are loaned out to each other.

Modric's departure gives manager Andre Villas-Boas a significant amount to invest in new players as the club look to improve on their shaky start to the season. Rumoured targets include Fulham midfielder Moussa Dembélé, Lyon goalkeeper Hugo lloris and Shakhtar Donetsk striker Willian.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner