Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto de Zerbi has emphasized that any player not feeling "proud and happy to stay" at the club should consider departing. "If he wants to stay, I will be happy. Otherwise, we have to find a new solution," De Zerbi commented regarding midfielder Lucas Bergvall.
Bergvall, who joined Tottenham from Djurgarden in 2024, had limited playing time at the end of the previous season. He started De Zerbi's first match in charge, a 1-0 loss to Sunderland, and subsequently made four substitute appearances. Tottenham has since bolstered their midfield with the signings of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.
"I have not spoken with Lucas yet," De Zerbi stated. "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."
De Zerbi acknowledged the increased competition for places due to new signings, noting, "There will be a big competition to play because at the end, I think we will be two players for each position."
The club has also added defenders Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, and Marcos Senesi to the squad. De Zerbi indicated that the team's transfer market activity is not yet complete, with the focus now shifting to reinforcing attacking positions. "First of all, I think it's not finished yet, our transfer market window," he said. "We have to finish, we have to bring another couple of, maybe more, maybe not less, but a couple of players."
Injuries are also a concern, with wingers Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski not traveling to New Zealand due to thigh and knee issues, respectively. "Kudus is very close. I think when we come back to London he will be available to start working with us," De Zerbi said. "It's a great thing for us. Kudus is another important player."
Regarding Kulusevski, De Zerbi added, "We have to see in the next couple of weeks. He's another important player. 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."
In other team news, attacking midfielder Xavi Simons recalled the severe anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained in April, which required surgery and led to him missing the 2026 World Cup. "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."
He added, "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?' This is what it is. I'm happy and in a good place now."