After the Hamburg side’s 3-2 (1-1) victory over SC Freiburg, Luka Vuskovic stepped down from the stage at Volksparkstadion to a standing ovation from fans, teammates, and coaching staff. The Croatian teenager, on loan from Tottenham without a purchase option, was sent into the Nordkurve by the HSV squad to receive the adoration of the club’s most passionate supporters, a rare level of affection for a loanee.
The 19-year-old defender delivered a fitting farewell gift by thundering a free kick into the Freiburg net to make it 2-1 before holding his No. 44 shirt aloft toward the HSV faithful. He proved to be a crucial piece in the promoted side’s successful fight to stay in the Bundesliga.
“This is a special day for me. The fans were incredible. I’ve received so much love from the fans, from the players, from the staff,” Vuskovic told DAZN after the match. While he could not promise a return to HSV, he added: “In football you never know, but the chance is very, very small. I played for the club this season. Every game was special. It was beautiful. Hamburg is my second home.”
During his 29 appearances for HSV, Vuskovic scored six goals and saw his market value rise fivefold to €60 million. His teammates will certainly miss him. “Luka is a great guy. He sits next to me in the dressing room. He is an outstanding footballer. We enjoyed every moment, every second with him,” said HSV veteran Bakery Jatta, 27.
