Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has paid tribute to Real Madrid veteran Luka Modric.
Modric celebrates his 15th year with the Croatian national team and Sportske Novosti marked the date with testimonies from those who worked closely with the midfielder - including his former Real coach Mourinho.
Mourinho said, "I insisted a lot to bring Modric to Real Madrid because he had everything we needed in the team: technique, vision, game reading, quality when making decisions, speed of thought, long, short passes, scoring from outside the area, he knew to press, he was smart and intense. We needed all of that at Real Madrid.
"He has adapted very smoothly to Real Madrid. The weight of everyday life, the pressure of the public. He is a stable and self-assured person. He quickly learned what Real Madrid is, the dimension and its goals.
"He works for the team. A great professional, who leads a quiet life, enjoys his family, works hard.
"When someone can make history with his works, he becomes immortal. Luka Modric won the Ballon d'Or, we cannot compare him with anyone."
