Vedran Corluka has revealed he begged Spurs boss Harry Redknapp to let him join Bayer Leverkusen on loan before the transfer window closed.
Defender was eager to leave Spurs to boost Croatia prospects
Vedran Corluka has revealed he begged Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp to let him join Bayer Leverkusen on loan before the transfer window closed.
The defender linked up with the Bundesliga club for the rest of the season last week and made his debut in Saturday's 2-2 draw at home with Stuttgart.
Corluka joined Leverkusen in search of first-team football after featuring just three times in the Premier League for Spurs this season and not making an appearance since the end of November.
The 26-year-old admits Redknapp was initially reluctant to let him leave White Hart Lane as Tottenham challenge for the Premier League title.
Softened
However, with Corluka eager to play to boost his prospects of making the Croatia team at Euro 2012, the stopper says Redknapp eventually relented.
"When I told him that I had an option to move to Germany, Harry didn't want to even hear about that," Corluka told
Vecernji List.
"He said to me that he still needs me and that I'm like all the other players - very important to him.
"The day before leaving Spurs I called him, and even begged him to let me go, as that was the only option for me and my chances to be at Euro 2012.
"And, after that conversation, he softened up and said that I can leave Tottenham."
