Luka Modric set to join Swansea City as part-owner

Luka Modric is set to join Swansea City as part-owner in a surprising move, according to a report from Fabrizio Romano.

The Real Madrid legend, 39, has reportedly agreed to become a minority owner at the South Wales club, who finished 11th in the Championship. The move will not affect his playing career.

Modric will join a new look ownership team at Swansea, after previous owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan sold their remaining shares in November. Andy Coleman, who was previously Chairman, became majority owner at the club. Brett Cravatt, Nigel Morris and Jason Cohen are the other members of the consortium.

They will be hoping the Croatian midfielder can sprinkle some stardust on the Swans. His career achievements are remarkable: over 900 career appearances, 583 of those for Real Madrid, 6 Champions League trophies, 4 La Liga titles, as well as the 2018 Ballon D'Or among many other honours.

Modric's ownership role will have no bearing on the rest of this season, but could be an indication as to his future plans.

The midfielder has regularly stated his desire to retire at Real, but no contract offer has yet been forthcoming and it is due to expire in June.

His venture into the ownership side of football is unexpected, but increasingly common. David Beckham, Gerard Pique and Ronaldo are some of the ex-pros to have stakes in football clubs.

American sports stars like Tom Brady, JJ Watt and Russell Westbrook have also bought stakes in English football teams. LeBron James has a long business partnership with FSG, the owners of Liverpool.

There has been no announcement yet on Modric's future in Madrid, but they face a the prospect of no silverware this year after Arsenal knocked them out of the Champions League, and rivals Barcelona beat them in the Copa Del Rey final and to La Liga.

Their last shot at success is in the upcoming expanded Club World Cup.

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