Piskie, I don't agree about newspapers not being able to make up quotes because of a certain code of conduct or whatever.
Van Persie had purportedly told Barcelona and Chelsea players to **** off in a Dutch interview, as reported in a newspaper.
There were ''direct'' quotes from van Persie in the report, too, and he'd apparently said that the players should ''shut the **** up and focus on football''
A few days later, van Persie denied these allegations and was baffled as he didn't know where these misled words had come from.
I remember this story. If a paper carries a direct quote, then they need to be able to demonstrate that it was actually a 'word for word account of what was actually said'. There is a clear code of ethics for journalists to adhere to this rule. The code is voluntarily subscribed to by the press in the UK, as they and the Government eschew the 'self regulating' rule. But a journalist's (and therefore the paper that they write for) reputation is built on their ability to back up what they report and direct quotes are the epitome of accurate reporting.
RVP's 'shut the **** up quote' was rebuffed by RVP, therefore, honestly or not, he challenged it's accuracy and thereby challenged the reputation of the journalist reporting it.
Modric on the other hand, made a long statement about wanting to go to Chelsea (not the flower show

), giving reasons why, explaining what Spurs were not able to offer (champions league football), wanting to leave Spurs 'as friends' and how he felt that a move to Chelsea would be good for his career. At no point since has he claimed that these were not his words. So therefore, unless he does, it represents an accurate statement of what he actually said.
Given that Redknapp has responded to this statement with his own opinion on it
'I suppose he's seen a massive contract and the chance to win the Premier League and play in the Champions League and that's what he wanted.
it would also suggest that Modric actually said what he did. If not then surely Redknapp would have dismissed it as false?
Of course, Modric may come out and make a u-turn, by issuing another statement saying that he no longer wants to play for Chelsea, as has been suggested he might, but if and until he does, it seems that his intention is to want to play for a bigger club who can offer him Champions League football.
Of course, I might be wrong and he actually said that he 'would like to go to Chelsea' so that he could buy a new hat on the King's Rd, or to get Alan Titchmarch's autograph at the Chelsea flower show.......

But that would just be ludicrous to believe that
