Alonso’s three moth outlay scuppers any chances of the Croatian coming to Old Trafford.
An injury to Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso means that Manchester United will no longer be able to sign former Tottenham Hotspur ace Luka Modric, according to the Daily Express.
The Red Devils had turned to Modric having failed to sign Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona on two separate occasions, but new Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti will not let the 27-year-old leave after this development.
Alonso has broken his metatarsal whilst in training and will face up to three months on the sidelines, meaning Ancelotti needs the Croatia international as cover in the middle of the park.
Initially it had been thought the ex-Spurs man would be allowed to leave due to the high number of top-class midfielders at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Yet now the situation has changed, Modric will be kept on by the manager and used more frequently in Los Blancos starting XI.
The Croatian joined Madrid from White Hart Lane last summer for a £27m fee, but has failed to become the success that was expected in the Spanish capital.
However, Modric did play 33 La Liga matches for the club in 2012/13 and memorably scored a stunning strike against United in the Champions League.
The midfielder also started Madrid’s first match of the new season against Real Betis last weekend and played a full 90 minutes.
New manager at the Premier League champions, David Moyes, will now have to turn the attention elsewhere once again for transfer targets, with Everton star Marouane Fellaini seemingly the most likely choice.
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