As Tottenham Hotspur push hard after two big blockbuster transfers in midfield in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes with additional links to Adam Wharton and Alex Scott, young prospect Lucas Bergvall made it clear to Spurs and Roberto De Zerbi that he can't handle the competition, handing in a transfer request over concerns for playing time in a crowded midfield.
But Bergvall was not the first big name at Tottenham to get scared off by the challenge of new competition, even though that is exactly what Spurs need in order to get back to being one of the best teams in the Premier League. Tottenham had already signed 60 million euro Dutch center back Jan Paul van Hecke from De Zerbi's old club Brighton, and not but a week later, top prospect Luka Vuskovic sent an ultimatum to Spurs that he wants a permanent transfer if he won't start immediately at N17; he won't even consider a loan transfer anymore.
The demands of Vuskovic and Bergvall, as well as their shocking lack of willingness to compete with others and prove they are the best for the job at a top club, has made Tottenham Hotspur supporters appreciate the real competitors with a top mentality even more.
Antonin Kinsky never gave up on himself
And nobody epitomizes that spirit more than Antonin Kinsky. He spent years toiling on the bench despite his prodigious talent, watching as Guglielmo Vicario threw away game after game in 2025/26, leading Spurs down a relegation rabbit hole with laughable leadership and even worse goalkeeping. Kinsky then got screwed over by Igor Tudor and the slippery Atletico Madrid pitch, but he did not sink lower after his low point. Intsead, he bravely fought back, took his opportunity by the scruff of the neck when Vicario finally got hernia surgery, and is now the true Tottenham No. 1 for the long haul with a new contract to prove it.
Just listen to Kinsky talk about his outlook and his mentality to see the difference between a true Spur and a young player developing an unwarranted ego. Kinsky said, via Chris Cowlin, "It’s a challenge; I’ll be fighting for a spot during pre-season. Negotiations are underway with the club about what the future might hold. I’m interested in staying and fighting for my place because the English league is great. Whether I’ll be the starter or the backup is something the coach will decide. In my mind, I’ve always been the No 1, even when I was on the bench. I’ll take the same approach now, and I believe it’ll work out.”
Lucas Bergvall and Luka Vuskovic need to take notes. This is what a future star says and how a real leader talks and sees the game. Kinsky was always here to compete and always saw himself as the best. And now he is. Where are Bergvall and Vuskovic going to be in five years if they won't compete?
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