Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has delivered a stark ultimatum to his squad: anyone not "proud and happy" to play for the club should leave this summer. The Italian's warning comes with Lucas Bergvall's future at the club hanging in the balance after a £38m bid from Nottingham Forest was rejected.
Speaking before Tottenham's pre-season friendly against Auckland FC in New Zealand, De Zerbi said: "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 warns unhappy players must leave; Bergvall's future unclear after £38m bid rejected.”
De Zerbi, who signed a five-year contract in March and guided Spurs to Premier League safety, emphasised motivation as key: "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."
Forest are expected to increase their offer to £45m for Sweden midfielder Bergvall, who joined from Djurgarden in 2024 and played limited minutes under De Zerbi last season. The 20-year-old started the Italian's first game in charge – a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland – and made four substitute appearances after that.
De Zerbi admitted he has not yet spoken to Bergvall: "I have not spoken with Lucas yet. 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." He added: "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 Johan Lange, with Vinai Venkatesham."
Tottenham have already spent heavily this summer, signing midfielders Sandro Tonali for £100m from Newcastle United and Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham, as well as defenders Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi. De Zerbi confirmed the club is not finished: "First of all, I think it's not finished yet, our transfer market window. We have to finish, we have to bring another couple of, maybe more, maybe not less, but a couple of players." The target now, he said, is "to complete the attacking positions".
Bergvall is in Tottenham's squad in New Zealand, but wingers Mohammed Kudus (thigh) and Dejan Kulusevski (knee) are absent recovering from long-term injuries. De Zerbi offered an update: "Kudus is very close. I think when we come back to London he will be available to start working with us."
