Real Madrid star Luka Modric confirms Dinamo Zagreb corruption in 2008 move to Tottenham

Real Madrid star Luka Modric has admitted that his move from Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 was beset by financial irregularities and tax evasion by the Croatian club's president, Zdravko Mamic, reports newspaper Jutarnji. Spurs paid €21m (£15.5m, $23.5m) for the midfielder's services, before selling him to Real four years later for nearly double that.

Earlier this month reports in Spain revealed the move was being investigated by the Bureau for Combating Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) for its role in a major corruption scheme undertook by Mamic and his brother Zoran, who is currently Dinamo's manager.

Modric was called to testify to the Croatian prosecutors upon returning to his homeland for Euro 2016 qualifiers. Local publication Jutarnji, as reported by Marca, revealed that the Real Madrid baller said Dinamo's president had illegally misappropriated at least €7m from his transfer to White Hart Lane.

The investigation, according to Jutarnji, suggests that Zdravko created separate secret contracts, along with the official one, to illegally gain part of the transfer. Half of the €21m fee paid by Spurs was not intended for Dinamo but Modric himself. However, Modric relinquished his rights to this amount in another secret document.

The player has distanced himself from any wrongdoing but confirmed to authorities that he gave the money to Zdravko and his family when he was transferred to Tottenham. "It was what I was instructed to do, I got the money and handed them the cash," Modric said, adding: "I was extraordinarily happy to move to a new club, play in the best league in the world and had unlimited confidence in Zdravko Mamic."