AVB fines Luka Modric £80K for going AWOL

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas if fuming that Modric failed to show up for the club's tour of America claiming that his mind was not in the right place.

The Croat is desperate to join Real Madrid, but despite indicating they would be prepared to sell, Spurs insist they will not lower their £38m valuation.

Villas-Boas has already hit him with a fine of a week's wages, and officials have told the player they will take further disciplinary action if he continues to stay away from training.

Villas-Boas said: “I think Modric is wrong. This will go against him. He has worsened the situation with what he’s doing and now the chairman is very angry.”

Real have so far shown no inclination to meet Spurs’ asking price and club president Florentino Perez is thought to be reluctant to go above £27m for him.

Perez is hoping to trade on the good relations between the two clubs following the transfer of Rafael Van der Vaart to north London in 2010.

But Modric knows from first-hand experience how tough Levy can be.

The player was a target for Chelsea – then managed by Villas-Boas – last summer and Modric was keen to move.

But Levy refused to sanction the deal and the Croatia international stayed put, playing a major part in helping Spurs finish fourth.

Villas-Boas added: “He’s good, very good. I tried to sign him last summer for Chelsea. He will be a big loss.”