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Ivan Perisic says he asked Luka Modric before picking the number 14 Tottenham shirt
Tottenham Hotspur new boy Ivan Perisic says he asked for Real Madrid star Luka Modric’s permission before picking the number 14 Spurs shirt.
Antonio Conte’s side have had a stunning transfer window so far. They’ve brought in Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence, but the signing that started it all was Perisic, who was the first one to come in this summer.
Spurs signed the Croatian on a free transfer after he decided against extending his contract at Inter Milan. Conte knows him really well thanks to their time together at the San Siro, and he’s set to play a big part at Tottenham this season.
North London wasn’t the only option for Perisic in this window. A number of clubs were keen to sign him, but a quick phone call to his good pal Modric helped him make up his mind.
Perisic asked for Modric’s permission before picking the number 14 Tottenham shirt
The 33-year-old sat down for an interview with this week, ahead of the start of the new Premier League campaign. He revealed that as soon as he received Tottenham’s offer, he gave Modric a call to ask about the club.
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.
“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.”
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The likes of Richarlison and Bissouma are more exciting signings for Tottenham than Perisic, but we have a feeling the Croatian may just prove to be their best addition this summer.
The 33-year-old, branded as ‘phenomenal’, is arguably the perfect player for Conte’s system. There wasn’t a better option on the market than Perisic for Spurs to bring in at left wing-back, especially considering that he knows the Spurs boss’ system better than anyone else.
Apart from his undeniable quality on the pitch, Perisic will bring in bags of experience. He has played over 600 games for club and country over the years, and his knowledge will surely benefit the club’s younger players.
Tottenham kick off their Premier League campaign at home against Southampton on Saturday, and Persic will be hoping to make his debut.
