Ivan Perisic reveals special request he made to Tottenham legend Luka Modric after getting nod to sign
Tottenham new boy Ivan Perisic has revealed that he spoke at length with Luka Modric before deciding to join the club this summer and also had a special request for the Spurs legend.
Perisic is one of six new Tottenham signings for the season, joining Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence in north London as part of Antonio Conte’s revolution.
The 33-year-old signed on a free transfer after deciding against extending his contract at Inter Milan, where he worked with the Italian.
Perisic will line up as Tottenham’s first-choice left wing-back when the new season starts this weekend.
However, he did have other options on the table after quitting Inter – although a chat with Modric helped him come to a decision.
The veteran Croatia star revealed in a chat with Sky Sports that as soon he received Spurs’ offer he was on the phone to the Real Madrid man.
Perisic said: “The first time I spoke with the manager (Conte), I also called Luka [Modric] later. I said to him that there is a possibility that I might come to his old club. And he said to me all of the positive things about the club.
“He used to play at the old stadium and he used to train on the old training camp. But everything is new here now, everything is much better and much more modern.”
Perisic also revealed his special request to Modric to where the Tottenham legend’s old No.14 shirt.
He added: “We’re going to wear the same number (14). I asked him for his permission and he said, ‘Okay, you can take it’, and yeah it was fun.”
Perisic poised for full Tottenham debut
Perisic looks set to given the nod when Spurs face Southampton in their opening game on Saturday.
However, two names that are not expected to play a part are Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp.
The two midfielders are currently struggling with injury issues and are set to miss some game time.
Bissouma has a hamstring complaint that was clearly bugging him in the friendly loss to Roma.
Skipp, meanwhile, had been making a good recovery from his hip problem. But he suffered a hairline fracture in his heel in training this week.
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