Modric: I am not surprised

By Danny Ward

Luka Modric says he is living a dream, winning the 2017/18 FIFA Best Player award though he is not surprised with the achievement.

The Real Madrid and Croatian midfielder was chosen ahead of contenders Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Egypt, and Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus and Portugal by captains, managers and selected journalists.

Modric received the award during the FIFA Best Awards gala held in London on Monday and he told reporters after the programme it was his childhood dream to win such a prestigious award.

“I am not surprised I was voted by managers, fans and journalists. When those people vote for you I think it’s deserved although there were other candidates like Cristiano and Salah and other great players.”

“As a child, I dreamt to win something important and now that I was voted the best player in the world it’s difficult to find the right words”, Modric told journalists after the Gala.

Modric’s Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic also had a nomination for the best coach award but lost it to France’s Didier Deschamps, a coach he lost to in the finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“Deschamps deserved to win the best manager award even if Dalic has achieved important results.”

Modric denied speculations that he wanted to move to Inter Milan during the summer transfer window.

“I never really thought of leaving the club”, he said when asked about his potential move to Inter.