Roberto De Zerbi has issued a blunt ultimatum to his Tottenham squad: any player not "proud and happy to stay" at the club this summer should leave. The Italian, who signed a five-year contract in March after rescuing Spurs from Premier League relegation, made the demand during the club’s pre-season tour in New Zealand, as uncertainty swirls around the future of midfielder Lucas Bergvall.
"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 told reporters, external ahead of Sunday's friendly against Auckland FC. "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."
“De Zerbi says Tottenham players not proud and happy to stay should leave, amid Lucas Bergvall transfer uncertainty.”
The comments come after Tottenham rejected a £38m bid from Nottingham Forest for Bergvall, with Forest expected to increase their offer to £45m. The 20-year-old Sweden international, who joined from Djurgarden in 2024, made limited appearances last season under De Zerbi, starting only the Italian’s first game in charge — a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland — and then making four substitute appearances.
De Zerbi said he has not yet spoken directly with Bergvall. "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," he said. "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."
Spurs have already overhauled their midfield this summer, signing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100m and Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m. Defensive reinforcements have also arrived: Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi. De Zerbi confirmed the club is not finished in the transfer market, saying the "target is to complete the attacking positions." He added: "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."
Bergvall is part of Tottenham's squad in New Zealand, but wingers Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski have not travelled as they recover from long-term injuries — Kudus with a thigh problem and Kulusevski with a knee issue. De Zerbi offered a positive update on Kudus: "He is very close. I think when we come back to London he will be available to start working with us."
The message is clear: for those who do not share De Zerbi's vision, the door is open — and it leads out of Tottenham.