Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi has told any players who are not happy at the club this summer they should leave, Yankee Scores reports.
The Italian, who took over at Spurs at the end of March and helped save them from Premier League relegation last season, made his comments amid doubts over Lucas Bergvall’s future at the club.
Tottenham rejected a first bid of £38m from Nottingham Forest for Sweden midfielder Bergvall, with Forest set to up their offer to £45m, per BBC Sport.
“I was very clear at the start of my time in Tottenham. I said, who doesn’t want to stay in Tottenham? Who is not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave,” Roberto De Zerbi said before his side’s pre-season friendly against Auckland FC in New Zealand on Sunday (04:30 BST).
“I want the players to be proud and happy to stay here, to go on the pitch in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with big motivation. Because now in football, if you think also in the World Cup, the motivation makes the difference.
“The motivation is to be happy to stay in one team.”
De Zerbi Addresses Bergvall Situation
Bergvall, who was signed by Spurs from Swedish outfit Djurgarden in 2024, has had little playing time towards the end of last season under De Zerbi.
In fact, the 20-year-old appeared in his manager’s first match as Spurs boss, which ended in a 1-0 loss to Sunderland, and then played in four substitute appearances thereafter.
Since then, Spurs have signed two new midfielders, namely Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United for £100m and Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m.
“I have not spoken with Lucas yet,” said De Zerbi. “I will in the next days and we will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us, without problems. Lucas is a big, big talent.
“There will be a big competition to play because at the end, I think we will be two players for each position.
“If he wants to stay, I will be happy. Otherwise, we have to find a new solution with [sporting director] Johan Lange, with [chief executive] Vinai [Venkatesham]. It’s not my business after the decision to leave.”
