Beyond Bernabéu How and why Modric invested in Swansea

Ben Fisher explains how Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or winner plans to help the club grow with his breadth of experience, expertise and pulling power

- Ben Fisher

It was the transfer nobody saw coming: Luka Modric to Swansea City, not joining as a player, but a minority stakeholder. The most decorated player in Real Madrid's history, a six-time Champions League winner and one of the greatest midfielders of his generation pitching up as a co-owner at a mid-table Championship club was certainly an unforeseen end-of-season development. A Ballon d'Or winner and Bernabéu star walking into the Swansea boardroom or exploring the Mumbles?

The sight of Modric cradling a Swansea-branded football in the accompanying press release prompted a few double-takes and sent a jolt across the game. "Hi Swansea fans, I'm Luka Modric and I'm excited to be part of the journey," came his message.

The 39-year-old Croatia captain is in the twilight of his career, but Swansea hope those words mark just the start of his involvement.

"My goal is to support the club's growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future."

How did it happen?

Swansea's US-based owners put the feelers out with the aim of adding a high-profile investor and Modric, via his long-term agent, Borja Couce, made clear it was an opportunity he was keen to pursue as he began to think about retirement. For Swansea, it was a no-brainer before even thinking about tapping into his knowledge and commercial pulling power. Conversations ramped up before Christmas after Brett Cravatt, one of Swansea's controlling owners, who is based in Los Angeles, met Modric's adviser via a mutual contact.