Ballon d'Or to boardroom – why Swansea for Modric?

Luka Modric has made a profession of seeing passes no-one other could.

So possibly it is fitting that he has now made a profession move no-one saw coming.

The Ballon d'Or victor has not near nan Bernabeu, but he has moved into nan boardroom astatine Swansea City.

The 39-year-old has invested successful nan Welsh club, receiving a number liking arsenic a result.

But rather why nan Real Madrid magician has transformed into co-owner astatine a Welsh Championship nine is simply a mobility that galore person been struggling to reply since nan astonishing news broke.

Swansea are thought to person been moving connected this woody for immoderate time. So overmuch so, location was immoderate astonishment astatine nan nine that nan communicative did not leak earlier it did connected Monday, pinch confirmation of nan news that bewildered nan shot world coming by nan evening.

The club's US-based ownership group – who took complete astatine nan Swansea.Com Stadium successful November – had been seeking an investor who could make an effect done their profile.

Driven by mostly owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen, they specifically sought personification pinch shot gravitas and world reach. Six-times Champions League victor Modric ticks each nan boxes.

When it was discovered nan Croatia skipper had an liking successful nine ownership, Swansea reached retired pinch a connection that yet led to this week's eye-catching announcement.

Modric's only words connected nan matter truthful acold are those issued successful Swansea's statement.

He speaks of nan club's "strong identity, an unthinkable fanbase and nan ambition to compete astatine nan highest level".

There was small clue, though, arsenic to why he has sewage progressive astatine Swansea.

There is immoderate talk of a nexus betwixt Modric and Swansea's ownership group, pinch galore caller faces connected nan committee pursuing nan takeover of nan nine past November.

There are besides suggestions that Modric – who played against Swansea doubly for Tottenham Hotspur successful nan 2011-12 Premier League run – was astatine slightest alert of nan club's floor plan and style of play from that time, arsenic good arsenic nan consequent years which saw nan Welsh broadside triumph nan League Cup and declare notable victories astatine location and successful Europe.

With that successful mind, it seems a successful transportation from Swansea to Modric was capable to move nan caput of personification who has already begun building a life extracurricular shot pinch finance successful spot and business.

And pinch nan likes of Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry and David Beckham among those to person branched retired into nine ownership, 1 Swansea root says Modric has viewed this arsenic a chance to effort thing akin himself.

No-one should beryllium expecting Modric to make a summertime move from Spain to nan centre of Swansea's midfield, sloppy of nan truth that his statement pinch Carlo Ancelotti's broadside is up astatine nan extremity of nan season.

With a World Cup to travel adjacent summer, moreover if Real skipper Modric leaves Madrid aft 13 years and 28 awesome trophies - he is their astir dressed up subordinate - nan Championship will not abruptly beryllium graced by a Galactico.

As acold arsenic Modric and Swansea are concerned, nan attraction is connected helping nan nine amended alternatively than straight influencing games.

He has already told nine officials he wants to thief successful immoderate measurement possible, pinch Swansea main executive Tom Gorringe noting really connected nan World Cup finalist has shown a genuine knowledge of really nan squad are performing.

Recently appointed head of shot Richard Montague will not spot his domiciled impacted, but Swansea do want to tie connected Modric's experience, pinch nan nine having been criticised successful nan caller past for lacking footballing nous.

What he will not beryllium is personification looking to inject large money into nan club.

It is not known really overmuch Modric has invested successful Swansea aliases what liking he has received – and that whitethorn ne'er go clear if he simply adds to nan US group that presently has a 77.4% share.

However, what nan iconic Modric brings is worthy much than conscionable cash, pinch Swansea keen to capitalise connected his world reach.

The club's owners precocious acknowledged they request to thrust caller income aft financial losses and their connection confirming Modric's engagement talked of "helping nan nine garner world attention".

Indeed, his 37.2m-strong Instagram pursuing – wherever he posted nan club's finance announcement – is bigger than that of astir Premier League clubs, including Arsenal.

One root said of nan woody helping put Swansea connected nan representation arsenic they activity a caller constituent of quality successful nan ultra-competitive Championship, arsenic good arsenic nan imaginable to pull amended sponsorship and commercialized deals.

Even nan anticipation of Modric's engagement swaying immoderate imaginable signings has been mooted, arsenic good arsenic nan wide assistance nan news has brought, pinch players astatine nan club's Fairwood training guidelines said to beryllium excited by talk of nan unexpected caller co-owner.

With a play to decorativeness astatine Real – and nary denotation of his unthinkable playing profession stopping conscionable yet – Modric's relation is much apt to beryllium distant than rooted successful southbound Wales.

Given nan measurement his daze modulation from footballing inspiration to proprietor and investor has sewage group talking, that should not beryllium an issue.

Dear Luka Modric,

Welcome to nan superior of Welsh football.

We came up against each different during nan 2011-12 season, our first successful nan apical formation for astir 3 decades. We would stay location for 7 seasons and pinch your thief we'd for illustration to get backmost there.

Swansea has a rich | footballing history. The backbone of nan Wales broadside that qualified for nan 1958 World Cup were calved successful nan city, including nan awesome John Charles, who was voted nan top overseas subordinate successful Serie A history.

In position of section cuisine Swansea is celebrated for its laverbread, and of course, Joe's Ice Cream. We person miles of beautiful coast, pinch Rhossili Bay voted among nan world's champion 50 beaches successful 2023.

Back to nan shot though and since Roberto Martinez became head successful 2007, nan nine has been synonymous pinch nan Swansea Way - possession pinch intent arsenic I telephone it.

If you tin thief america enlistee players who suit that accuracy and tin thief america amended and get backmost to nan Premier League, that would beryllium a occupation good done.

And if you want to time off Real Madrid to spot your profession retired present we won't mind that either!