Tottenham sold the Croatian to Brighton this summer after signing the Seagulls’ own centre-back in a big-money deal.
Luka Vuskovic is loving life at Brighton and is grateful for Tottenham’s involvement in his career, but still doesn’t know why they sold him.
The 19-year-old signed for Spurs as a 16-year-old but was unable to move from Hajduk Split to north London for several years due to EU rules. The big centre-back had loan spells at Radomiak in Poland, then Westerlo in Belgium before joining Spurs last year before being sent on another loan to Bundesliga outfit Hamburg.
Vuskovic played in Germany and played at the World Cup for Croatia, but under Roberto De Zerbi, he saw no immediate future at Tottenham and another loan move was likely.
The teenager has prompted a permanent move to ensure his career continues and after signing Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52m, the north London club sold Vuskovic to the Seagulls as a replacement. It was a deal worth £46m and another £4m in what appeared to be very attainable add-ons, plus a 20% sell-on clause on any profits from the defender and the right to future offers.
Vuskovic has been a big hit for Brighton with Fabian Hurzeler playing almost every minute of the youngster this season as the south coast side sit 3rd in the early Premier League table and 16th.
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He had already scored his first Premier League goal in a draw with Leeds last month and assisted in a dramatic Carabao Cup comeback at Old Trafford as Brighton beat Manchester United 3-2 11 days later.
Asked in The Argus if he had proved his worth at Spurs, Vuskovic said: “I wouldn’t look at it that way. Tottenham really helped me when I was a teenager. I’ve been with them and my debts for two years and they’ve helped me a lot. I’m really grateful to them. Now I feel at Brighton and I believe in it. I.”
He added: “In the end, I don’t know why Tottenham didn’t want me. But Brighton believed in me. Also, I knew they wanted to sign me a few years ago. I’m very happy with my choice. It’s a really amazing club with young talent.”