Netherlands legend Ruud Gullit believes that his compatriot Rafael van der Vaart's international future could be under threat if his club Hamburg fail to qualify for Europe next season.

Thorsten Fink's side are currently eighth in the Bundesliga with 38 points from 26 matches, just a point behind fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.

"I thought Rafael was happy at Spurs," Gullit told Hamburger Morgenpost. "It would be good for him to play in a European competition with Hamburg next season."

Gullit added that Van der Vaart is a "great player with extraordinary abilities", but needs to play "at the top level" and has to be "100% fit".

Van der Vaart joined Hamburg from Tottenham Hotspur last summer.