There was once a time that Ivan Rakitic could have been a Tottenham player, but ultimately a deal with Barcelona could not be done at the time in 2020.
The Croatian footballer is a highly respected figure in the world of football, having won numerous La Liga titles and a Champions League with the Spanish club.
He was also part of the famous Croatian national side that finished as runners-up in the 2018 World Cup.
Rakitic would have joined the list of Croatians that have donned the Spurs jersey, which includes the likes of Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic.
But it also includes a current Lilywhite man, Luka Vuskovic, who is currently out on loan, which was a contested decision by the fanbase.
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However, Spurs fans may not like to hear what Rakitic has said about his fellow countryman.
Ivan Rakitic raves about Tottenham’s Luka Vuskovic
Vuskovic was signed as a young talent at Tottenham, but his time at N17 has seen him get zero minutes for Spurs.
After arriving in July 2025, he was sent out on loan, joining Bundesliga side Hamburg just a month later.
While on loan, Vuskovic has been impressing highly, and his performances have been catching the eyes of those in the footballing world.
None less than his fellow Croatian, Rakitic.
Speaking about Vuskovic with Sky Sports Germany, Rakitic said: “All of Europe is talking about him right now.
“Bayern needs to do everything [to sign him]. He has everything it takes to become one of the best centre-backs.”
As he has yet to play a game for the North London side, Spurs fans will no doubt not like the thought of one of the bigger talents at the club leaving without featuring for them.
How is Luka Vuskovic doing this season?
Vuskovic is having a remarkable season for Hamburg this year, and he is a player that Spurs could desperately use right now.
Thomas Frank is undergoing a defensive crisis, and rumours of Cristian Romero leaving are not helping either.
When it comes to the 18-year-old, Vuskovic has been proving himself as a dominant defender in the Bundesliga this campaign, with a staggering 80 per cent aerial duel success, as per Sofascore.
He also seems to be quite active at the back, highlighted by his 8.5 clearances per game and his 4.3 balls recovered per game.
Additionally, his 7.27 rating is higher than any current Tottenham player, with Romero the closest with 7.2.
He is also seemingly a goal threat at the other end of the pitch, too. The central defender has netted four goals in the league, currently matching the totals of Romero and Micky van de Ven in England.
Overall, he is proving to be quite the signing by Tottenham, and perhaps a player they should have kept around for this season.