Lucas Bergvall has been a revelation since joining Spurs last summer, but he almost ended up in Barcelona.
Lucas Bergvall’s debut season at Spurs took everyone by surprise. The 18-year-old was brought in as a player for the future, but the club quickly realised he could make an instant impact.
But he almost didn’t end up in North London.
Bergvall was close to joining Barcelona, but Ange Postecoglou stepped in and persuaded him on a move to Tottenham.
How Ange Postecoglou pinched Lucas Bergvall from Barcelona
BBC Sport have released a new documentary on the Swedish sensation, in which last summer’s negotiations are discussed.
Playing for Swedish side Djurgarden at the time, Bergvall came extremely close to joining the Catalan outfit. He even met with Sporting Director Deco to finalise a deal.
But Bergvall’s former academy director Peter Kisfaludy reveals that a meeting with Postecoglou changed the minds of Bergvall and his family. He says: “I think Postecoglou was really important when he met him.
“(He told him) if you’re coming here, trust me, you’re going to play.”
Bergvall already knew what Spurs fans would come to find out. He was ready to be a first-team player. That wouldn’t have been as straightforward, joining a club with Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and co.
He realised quickly that he had made the right choice as he began featuring regularly in the starting lineup.
Dejan Kulusevski helped Bergvall settle in
Bergvall is a graduate of the Brommapojkarna academy, which has produced some serious talent in recent years. Viktor Gyokeres is one example, and another is Spurs star Dejan Kulusevski.
He explains that having his fellow countryman there as he was acclimatising was a huge bonus: “He helped me to come into the group and to learn. So, I’m really grateful for that.
“He’s been great ever since the beginning to help me with everything, not only on the pitch, but also off the pitch. He’s the example you want in a team. He’s top.”
We are yet to see the best of Bergvall. That is an exciting thought.
At just 19, he already looks like one of the best midfielders at the club and he’s only going to improve. A Premier League Player of the Week and Champions League Player of the Match award signal that he is in red-hot form.
In a couple of years, we could be talking about one of the best midfielders in the league, and Ange deserves all the credit.
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