Luka Modric forced to deny reports his cousin has been kidnapped and murdered in El Salvador

Real Madrid footballer Luka Modric has been forced to deny widespread speculation that his cousin has been kidnapped and murdered in El Salvador.

Reports claimed a woman named Susana Modric was found dead in the boot of a car two days after she was snatched.

Luka Modric's name started trending on Facebook on Thursday as media outlets wrongly said the victim was one of his relatives.

The ex-Spurs star took to Twitter to tell his followers that the reports were false.

"Given the information appeared, I want to clarify that the deceased in El Salvador does not have any family relationship with me," he said.