Roberto de Zerbi has issued a blunt message to his Tottenham squad, making clear that any player lacking commitment to the club ought to seek a move away this summer.
The Italian, who penned a five-year deal upon arriving at Spurs in late March and steered them clear of Premier League relegation, delivered his remarks ahead of a pre-season fixture against Auckland FC in New Zealand on Sunday.
“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,” De Zerbi said.
The 47-year-old stressed that desire and drive are non-negotiable.
Roberto De Zerbi has told Tottenham players to leave if they do not want to be at the club
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“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,” he added.
His comments come against the backdrop of uncertainty surrounding Lucas Bergvall’s future at the north London club. Nottingham Forest have had an opening £38m offer for the Sweden international turned down, with the East Midlands side reportedly preparing to increase their bid to £45m.
Bergvall, who moved to Spurs from Djurgarden in 2024, featured sparingly once De Zerbi took the reins. The 20-year-old midfielder was handed a start in the manager’s debut match — a 1-0 loss at Sunderland — but was restricted to four substitute appearances thereafter.
De Zerbi acknowledged he is yet to hold talks with the player. “I have not spoken with Lucas yet,” he said. “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.
“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.”
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi wants a strong group mentality
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Other players who are rumoured to be eyeing departures this summer include Cristian Romero, who has been linked with a move to Inter Milan, as well as defensive partner Micky van de Ven.
The competition for midfield places has intensified considerably following a summer of lavish spending.
Sandro Tonali arrived from Newcastle United in a blockbuster £100m transfer, while Mateus Fernandes was recruited from West Ham for £85m.
De Zerbi warned that squad depth will be fierce. “There will be a big competition to play because at the end, I think we will be two players for each position,” he said.
Defensive reinforcements have also been secured, with Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi all joining the club. Yet the manager indicated Spurs’ business is far from complete, with forward areas now the priority.
“First of all, I think it’s not finished yet, our transfer market window,” De Zerbi said. “We have to finish, we have to bring another couple of, maybe more, maybe not less, but a couple of players.”
Bergvall has travelled with the squad to New Zealand, but two key wide players have remained in London nursing long-term injuries. Mohammed Kudus is sidelined with a thigh problem, though De Zerbi offered an encouraging update on the winger’s recovery.
“Kudus is very close. I think when we come back to London he will be available to start working with us,” the manager said. “It’s a great thing for us. Kudus is another important player.”
Lucas Bergvall has been heavily linked with a move away from Tottenham
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Dejan Kulusevski’s situation requires greater caution. The Swedish winger has been out with a knee injury for an entire campaign and has not yet been cleared to rejoin training.
“Kulusevski, we have to see in the next couple of weeks,” De Zerbi explained. “After one season, one complete season, without a game, we have to analyse better and better, don’t take risks, first of all for him and then for us.”
Elsewhere, attacking midfielder Xavi Simons has opened up about the devastating impact of the anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained in April. The Netherlands international underwent surgery on the knee and was ruled out of the 2026 World Cup as a result.
“The first four days were the worst days of my life,” Simons told Tottenham’s website. “I couldn’t sleep, I didn’t eat for one week. I was in a lot of pain. I was vomiting and felt dizzy, it was everything. That pain, I don’t wish no-one to go through that pain.”
Xavi Simons underwent surgery on his knee that could see him miss the rest of the year
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The Dutchman described the experience as a total physical shock. “I don’t know what it’s like for other players but, for me, it was like my whole body was saying like ‘what happened?'” he said.
Simons, however, struck a positive note about his rehabilitation. “This is what it is. I’m happy and in a good place now.”
