The ambiguity of the whole thing should have given it away. Some were quick to fall for the new “partnership” between Tottenham and Real Madrid, the north London club trying to find something worthwhile hidden amongst the cloud of deceit. For Madrid, it was the icing on the cake which really has no long-term meaning. They got what they wanted in Luka Modric and, in a way, attempted to plant Spurs in a position of clear inferiority.

Would Real Madrid have really entered into some kind of long-term affiliation with a club they deemed to be an equal, or at least a close rival? There was no such talk when Manchester United finally gave up the fight and agreed on Cristiano Ronaldo’s sale to the La Liga club. And why would there be? Both clubs compete in the Champions League each year, likely to face off with one another during the knockout phase. On the field they’re two titans clashing with the hopes of glory in May. Off the field, they’re sharing coaching tips, sitting around discussing the prospects in each team’s squad and how they can benefit from spells abroad. Really?

It was a lot of nonsense last summer and it still is today. Even if it wasn’t directly mentioned, Real Madrid wanted to get their hand in the jar first for the likely future sale of Gareth Bale. Why else would they want to keep Spurs within reach if they’d already picked up Modric? And what do Spurs get from all it? Well we don’t really know – that’s how hazy the whole thing was, and still is.

As soon as Tottenham cement their place as a regular in the Champions League, this whole agreement is out the window. But by then Madrid will probably have what they want, unless they fancy targeting Andre Villas-Boas, Jan Vertonghen or whoever else comes to prominence next season. Partnerships like this are only really suggestive of one thing: one club’s huge superiority over another.

When Spurs were short of numbers or on the hunt for specific players, Real Madrid didn’t offer them Raul Albiol or Nuri Sahin. For those who are likely to leave Real Madrid in the near future, will they want to take a step down to Tottenham? Can Spurs really afford the wages and fee? Will Real Madrid play any hand in facilitating such deals?

In the grand scheme of things Spurs do not need Real Madrid, nor will they benefit in any way from their presence. The Spanish club’s blatant and public tapping up of Bale also doesn’t sit well considering the agreement that was reached last summer. Not that there is anything to salvage in the long run, but Tottenham’s likely disdain for the manner in which Madrid handle themselves would be understandable. And like in the past where Daniel Levy has been frustrated and burned through negotiations with Manchester United, what is the incentive for the Spurs chairman to enter into negotiations with Madrid for Bale, other than getting the player out of the country?

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As Spurs continue to build their own empire, adding to the new training ground with a new stadium and the status as a big player in English football, the connection to Real Madrid will only hamper the club’s hopes of a productive future. Without the partnership in place, not to say there is much of a deal now, Spurs do have the base to simply say no to strong advances from La Liga. The rumble from within the Spurs camp isn’t as strong as it was with Modric last summer, and the only thing working in Madrid’s favour is that Bale probably will leave Tottenham at one point or another – but there is nothing guaranteeing or forcing that to take place this summer.

On this partnership front the game should be up. It’s clear what Madrid’s intentions were but Spurs are far better than that.

Were there really any benefits to the partnership between both clubs?

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