Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski was named best Swedish footballer for 2022 and said he moved to North London from Juventus to ‘get his life back.’
The Sweden star is still formally a Juventus player, having joined Tottenham on an initial loan deal with an option to buy in January 2022.
However, Tottenham have already made it clear that they will sign the ex-Parma and Atalanta starlet on a permanent transfer in the summer, if not earlier.
Kulusevski has now become the youngest player to win the Aftonbladet’s Guldbollen, the Swedish Ballon d’Or since Tomas Brolin in 1990.
“I am very proud and happy to have received this award,” he told Sport Bladet.
“There have been many people who have helped me along the way and it has been hard work, but it is an honour to receive this award.
“The whole year has been absolutely fantastic, actually. I came to Tottenham to get my life back, my hunger back, and my love back after they had flown away.
“I feel that I am getting better and better every day and have incredible fun when I play on the pitch, says Kulusevski.”
Kulusevski spent one and a half seasons at Juventus but left the club in January after struggling with playing time under Massimiliano Allegri.
“I think I can get much better, I’m on the right track,” he continued.
“I feel like I’m learning new things every day, that the physic is getting much better and that I’m developing my understanding of the game. I feel really good right now, but I want more.”
Kulusevski scored nine goals in 74 appearances in Turin and has managed six in 29 games with Tottenham under Antonio Conte during his first year at the club.
Yeah PhD Max sucked the life right out of him. Good for Kulu, he is testing himself in a much harder league and is now learning to move the ball forward. Under the Wizard of Max, reverse was the order of the day as well as neutral.