Rakitic says Tottenham teenager ‘shaking up the football world’

Ivan Rakitic has said Tottenham Hotspur defender Luka Vuskovic is ‘shaking up the football world’ after an outstanding loan spell at Hamburg.

Vuskovic joined the German side in search of regular first-team football last summer and has had an excellent campaign.

Just one player has won a higher percentage of their aerial duels than Vuskovic across Europe’s top five leagues this season, while the Croatian has scored four goals from centre-back, including an equaliser against Bayern Munich last month.

Rakitic, who won 106 caps for Croatia, believes his compatriot will be a target for all of Europe’s top teams next summer. He urged Bayern Munich to move for the defender who has ‘shaken’ up the football world this season.

“All of Europe is talking about him right now. FC Bayern needs to do everything [to sign him],” Rakitic said to Sky Sports Germany.

“I believe the boy has to go to Bayern. He has everything it takes to become one of the best centre-backs. I’m curious to see if Tottenham will manage to keep him beyond the summer, because in my opinion he’s already ready for the next step to one of the absolute top clubs. And for me, there are only four or five of those clubs in Europe. It is incredibly nice to see how such a young guy can shake up the football world.”

Rakitic’s praise comes after Germany legend Lothar Matthaus also spoke positively on Vuskovic’s performances. He praised the maturity that the 18-year-old has played with this season.

“At the age of 18, he plays as if he had already played three World Cups! Even when I was 30, I didn’t see what he saw at 18. This player is so intelligent.”

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