De Zerbi: Unhappy Tottenham players should leave

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has stated that players who are not happy at the club should move on, speaking ahead of a pre-season friendly against Auckland FC. The comments come amid uncertainty over midfielder Lucas Bergvall's future after Spurs rejected a £38m bid from Nottingham Forest, with Forest expected to raise their offer to £45m.

"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. He emphasized the importance of motivation, noting that players must be proud and happy to play for the club.

Bergvall joined Spurs from Swedish club Djurgarden in 2024 but played limited minutes under De Zerbi, starting only one game – a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland – and making four substitute appearances. Spurs have since signed midfielders Sandro Tonali for £100m from Newcastle and Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham.

De Zerbi revealed he has not yet spoken with Bergvall but plans to do so in the coming days. "We will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us," he said. "If he wants to stay, I will be happy. Otherwise, we have to find a new solution."

Tottenham have also added defenders Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, and Marcos Senesi. De Zerbi said the transfer window is not yet closed, targeting a couple more players, particularly in attacking positions.

Bergvall is part of the squad in New Zealand, but wingers Mohammed Kudus (thigh) and Dejan Kulusevski (knee) stayed behind due to injuries. De Zerbi expects Kudus to be available when the team returns to London, while Kulusevski's situation will be monitored.

Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Xavi Simons recalled the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in April, requiring surgery and causing him to miss 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, vomiting, and felt dizzy." He added that he is now in a good place and happy.