Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka admits he pleaded with manager Harry Redknapp to let him join Bayer Leverkusen on-loan.

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."