'Really difficult' - Luka Vuskovic explains Tottenham transfer decision with brutal honesty

Luka Vuskovic has admitted that he found it difficult to play at the level of Tottenham players like Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven so decided to head out on loan to Hamburg in a bid to improve.

The 18-year-old centre-back arrived at Spursthis summer from Hajduk Split and grabbed a goal and assist in his first pre-season friendly against Reading under new head coach Thomas Frank. As pre-season wore on, the new Tottenham boss decided that the teenage Croatian would benefit from a loan move if he wanted it.

Vuskovichas admitted after making the move to Hamburg where his brother Mario has played that he had to make the move to the Bundesliga as he did not feel ready for Tottenham's level just yet.

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"Yes, they offered me an option to stay, to play in case of injury or cup matches, but I wanted continuous minutes," the defender said in an interview with Germanijak. "They have Romero and Van de Ven playing there, two of the best centre-backs in the world at the moment.

"I believe in myself, but it's really difficult to play next to them. I've faced them and I realised that I still have to work harder. A lot of work and a little luck, so I'll be back."

He explained why he made the move to Tottenham this summer, after agreeing the transfer two years ago despite competition for his signature from Manchester City.

"I didn't want to be just a number. At Tottenham, you told me what they expected and offered in terms of sport and that prevailed, the plan they put before me," said the centre-back.

On his move to Hamburg, Vuskovic is looking forward to his third loan in as many years after spells at Radomiak in Poland and Westerlo in Belgium.

"I was hoping for such an outcome. I really wanted HSV. A big club, a beautiful city with an army of fans," he said. "My brother was there and that's why it was even more important to me. I was at the qualifiers with Ulm, I felt the atmosphere, and especially when they chanted for my brother - they bought me here for life.

"Nothing is guaranteed, I don't have a guaranteed spot. I'll play if I'm good in training, if the coach thinks I am. If I'm not, I won't play."