Dinamo Zagreb’s 22-year-old attacking midfield star Luka Modric reckons that he had the chance to waltz into Arsenal last summer as a replacement for Tomas Rosicky, but he snubbed the north Londoners.

Modric claims that although he is a big Arsene Wenger fan, he wants to take things slowly and not just jump into the arms of the first big club that comes sniffing for him.

Modric confessed: “Yes, I was close to moving to Arsenal, Arsene Wenger tried to sign me at the same time that he signed my friend Eduardo.

“Wenger wanted me because Rosicky could have left. It was an honour that a manager who works so well with youngsters was interested in me, but I preferred to wait.

“I am prepared to play in every league, La Liga, Calcio, Premier League or Bundesliga, but I must admit that the Spanish league is the one that attracts me the most.”

However any future Arsenal bid for the Croatian won’t guarantee his services, as he is a masssive Barca fan, Modric drooled:

“Playing for Barca must be something great. It is an honour to know they are following me.”

So Modric is keeping a friendly distance from the Gunners, along with pretty much every other big European club too…