Wantaway midfielder Luka Modric has returned to training with Tottenham at Spurs Lodge, the club have confirmed.
Villas-Boas confirms Croatian has been fined over missing training
Wantaway midfielder Luka Modric has returned to training with Tottenham at Spurs Lodge, the club have confirmed.
Modric has been fined for missing training amid speculation of a move away, with Real Madrid thought to be the favourites for the Croatian's signature.
He did not join Tottenham on their pre-season tour of the United States but was back at the club's training ground on Monday.
Return
A statement on the club's
official website on Monday night read: "The club can confirm Luka Modric has returned to training today (Monday) at Spurs Lodge. The coaching staff will now determine the remainder of his pre-season preparation."
Modric has stated his desire to leave the North London club this summer, having remained faithful to them last season after widespread interest - including from Chelsea, then managed by current Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas.
Tottenham are willing to sell Modric at the right price, but it is understood they are looking for a fee nearer to £40million than the widely-reported figure of £35million. Manchester United and Paris St Germain are also reported to be interested in the 26-year-old.
Manager Villas-Boas, currently in the States with Spurs, confirmed the midfielder had been fined for missing training.
He said in a press conference in Los Angeles broadcast on
Sky Sports News: "The situation as it stands is that the player is under club discipline for not being present.
"There is close interest in him but we have to hold onto our values and our rights and at the moment the situation for Luka is that he is under club discipline.
"Unfortunately for him he's going to have to be fined for the club for not being present.
"He's a player who has offered so much for Tottenham so we also have a sense of respect for what he has done over here for us but the chairman feels the fact he is not present is not common professional behaviour.
"Hopefully the situation can be solved in either of two ways, those being that the clubs' interest meets the demands of Tottenham regarding the player's value or the player continues and returns to club duty."
Advice
Asked if reports Modric was being fined £15,000 a day held any truth, the manager added: "I'm not sure on the extent of the amount.
"Hopefully this isn't a situation that won't drag on for long.
"We don't doubt his human qualities. We don't know what kind of advice he is receiving."
