De Zerbi: Unhappy Tottenham Players Should Leave

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi stated that players who are not happy and proud to stay at the club this summer should move elsewhere. Speaking amid uncertainty regarding the future of midfield player Lucas Bergvall, De Zerbi emphasized that he wants players who are motivated and committed to the team.

The Italian took over Tottenham at the end of March 2026 and played a significant role in helping the club avoid relegation from the Premier League last season. Tottenham had rejected a bid of £38 million from Nottingham Forest for Bergvall, and Forest is set to increase their offer to £45 million.

"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 remarked before a pre-season friendly against Auckland FC in New Zealand on July 30 (04:30 BST). He added that it is crucial for players to feel proud and motivated when playing in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Bergvall, who joined Tottenham from Swedish club Djurgarden in 2024, had limited playing time under De Zerbi last season. The 20-year-old started De Zerbi's first match in charge, which ended in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, and made four substitute appearances thereafter. In addition to Bergvall, Tottenham has signed midfielders Sandro Tonali for £100 million from Newcastle United and Mateus Fernandes for £85 million from West Ham.

De Zerbi mentioned that he had not yet spoken with Bergvall but intended to do so in the coming days to determine the best course of action for both the player and the club. He acknowledged Bergvall’s potential and noted that competition for playing time would be intense, stating, "there will be big competition to play because at the end, I think we will be two players for each position."

If Bergvall wishes to remain with the club, De Zerbi said that he would be pleased, but if not, they would find a new path forward with the club’s sporting director Johan Lange and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham. De Zerbi suggested that the transfer market is still open for Tottenham and that there are still positions to fill, especially in attacking roles.

As part of the squad in New Zealand, Bergvall had the support of his teammates, while wingers Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski were missing due to injuries. De Zerbi shared updates on Kudus, who is making progress and should start training soon, and Kulusevski, who is under evaluation after a long absence.

Moreover, Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons spoke about his recovery from a serious knee injury sustained in April, which required surgery. He expressed that the injury was a painful experience but now feels he has recovered significantly.