Six times players refused to return for pre-season, including Luka Modric and Neymar

Over the past two decades, a handful of high-profile players have refused to return for pre-season training as they attempted to force through a summer move. So, how did they get on?

We'll start with Luka Modric, who might just be the most surprising name on this list

Back in the summer of 2012, Modric was determined to leave Tottenham amid interest from elsewhere. In fact, he attempted to push things along by refusing to join Spurs on their pre-season tour of the United States.

A short time later, he apologised for taking such a stance, but after trying to engineer a move to Real Madrid, he was forced to train with the reserves.

Modric went on to complete a move to Los Blancos in a deal worth around £30 million and the rest, as they say, is history. A six-time Champions League winner. Four La Liga titles. One Ballon d'Or.

Luka Modric left Tottenham in 2012 after refusing to join his teammates for pre-season. Image credit: Getty

Here are some other players who refused to return for pre-season training.

Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling refused to go on Liverpool's pre-season trip to Thailand, Australia and Malaysia as he attempted to force through a move to Manchester City.

At the time, the Reds had turned down two offers from City for the England international, who is said to have turned down a £100,000-a-week contract extension the previous season.

Liverpool eventually accepted an offer worth £49 million, with Sterling penning a five-year deal at the Etihad. As well as scoring 131 goals in 339 appearances, he lifted four Premier League titles with the Citizens.

Diego Costa

Back in the summer of 2017, Diego Costa was fined two weeks' wages (£300,000) by Chelsea for failing to return to pre-season training.

Costa, who'd been informed by Antonio Conte that he had no future at Stamford Bridge, accused the club of treating him like a “criminal” after being asked to train with the reserves. He refused and stayed at home in Brazil.

The Spaniard also believed he was being blocked from joining Atletico Madrid, but a short time later, he returned to his former club in a deal worth £57 million.

Thibaut Courtois

In an attempt to force through a move to Real Madrid, Thibaut Courtois refused to turn up for Chelsea's pre-season training in 2018.

This wasn't the first time Courtois had used such a tactic. He did the same thing at Belgian side Genk to secure a transfer to Chelsea.

The Belgian's representative, Christophe Henrotay, said at the time that his client was pursuing the transfer to Madrid solely for family reasons. Courtois’ two children were living in Spain.

Neymar

Amid rumours of a return to Barcelona, Neymar failed to show up for Paris Saint-Germain's first day of pre-season training in 2019.

PSG had expected the forward to return to training after he missed the Copa America through an ankle injury.

The French side promised to take "appropriate action" and a fine of £340,000 was handed out to Neymar, who stayed with the Ligue 1 giants for another four years before joining Al Hilal.

Laurent Koscielny

Then-Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny refused to travel on the club's pre-season tour of the United States in 2019 as he tried to force a move.

Koscielny reportedly wanted to return to France and asked Arsenal to release him from his contract.

"We are very disappointed by Laurent's actions, which are against our clear instructions," Arsenal said in a statement at the time. "We hope to resolve this matter and will not be providing any further comment at this time."

A month later, Koscielny signed for Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.