World-class midfielder infamously rejected by Newcastle United signs for Champions League club at 39

Way back in the dark times under Mike Ashley circa 2008. Newcastle United were offered the chance to sign a diminutive midfielder who was touted as the next big thing.

Our manager at the time, one Kevin Keegan, was ecstatic that he'd been given the opportunity to beat Tottenham Hotspur to the signing of this 22-year-old player called Luke Modric.

Unfortunately for Keegan, his transfer business had to go through Tony Jiminez, a man with about as much football knowledge as my cat, and he killed the deal before it even got off the ground.

For context, Jimenez's contribution to Newcastle United was signing Xisco, before his legacy became passing up on Luka Modric and forcing Kevin Keegan to quit. What a guy.

Luka Modric was not 'big enough or strong enough' to play in the Premier League

We'll allow Kevin Keegan himself to explain what happened with the Modric deal with quotes from a talk-in event in 2018 (h/t The Chronicle):

“We tried to sign Modric. Modric’s agent was a massive fan of mine and he was about to sign for Spurs.

“He hopped on a train to Newcastle and all we had to do was sell the club to him. Mr Jimenez said ‘I’ve watched him, I don’t think he is big enough or strong enough to play in the Premier League.’ That was the end of that, he killed it stone-dead.”

Yeah, we really dodged a bullet there, Tony

Modric ended up at Spurs, where he proved Jimenez wrong instantly. He's since gone on to play almost 400 games for Real Madrid over a 13-year period.

Along the way, he has won many trophies, including, but not limited to, six Champions League titles, five Club World Cup titles, five UEFA Super Cup titles and four La Liga titles. Also, throw in a Ballon d'Or for good measure.

Now at 39 years old, Modric is set to leave Real Madrid, but he's not hanging up his boots yet, nor is he skulking off to the USA or Saudi Arabia. Modric, according to Fabrizio Romano, is signing for AC Milan.

Well played, Jimenez, you gonk!