Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, for a reported club record fee of up to £100 million. He isn’t the first marquee signing Spurs have made this summer, and he probably isn’t going to be their last.
After a shocking campaign that almost saw the North London outfit relegated to the Championship, surely Manchester City, who were also interested in the Italian, looked a far more attractive move.
But Tonali opted for the Lilywhites, alongside Jan Paul van Hecke and Marco Senesi who were wanted by Liverpool, and Matheus Fernandes who also had interest from PSG and Manchester United.
The question is, what are these players seeing in Tottenham that we maybe aren’t?
What do Spurs’ signings see in the project?
It’s not even a week into the summer transfer window and Tottenham have already made six signings. These aren’t just free agents or players for depth either, there’s almost £250 million worth of players among just three of the six new boys.
But what is drawing so many top players to Roberto De Zerbi’s side. The clue is in the sentence: De Zerbi. Tonali claimed he was powerless to resist De Zerbi’s “magic” sales pitch.
He said: “I spoke to the head coach [De Zerbi] for close to two hours about the club, the fans, the stadium and our football. It was like magic because I knew immediately I had to sign for Tottenham. I can’t wait to start the season.”
Van Hecke echoed the praises of his former Brighton boss upon his arrival at Tottenham. He said: “I already have a really strong connection with the head coach, who I’m looking forward to working with again.”
Fernandes was convinced by Tottenham’s offer, believing he would play a significant role under De Zerbi, whose playing style could maximise his potential.
He said: “The head coach was a key part of why I have decided to join. When we spoke, it was very special. We look at football in the same way – going on to the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try to win every game.”
Every player who signs for a new club often mentions the manager, but not many like this. The players seem in awe of their conversations with De Zerbi. It’s not just the excitement of playing his style of football, it’s the feeling he gives them before they’ve even walked through the door.
The De Zerbi effect
De Zerbi joined Brighton in September 2022, as an unknown coach facing the seemingly impossible job of following the most promising English manager in the country, Graham Potter.
That season, the Italian led Brighton to heights they had never dreamed of before. The Seagulls qualified for European football for the first time in their history. Not only did he transform the team, but also the individual’s careers.
Pervis Estupinan reached new heights at left back, partnering down the left flank with Kaoru Mitoma. The Ecuadorian became regarded as one of the best full backs in the league, before earning a move to Serie A giants AC Milan.
He got Solly March fit and firing consistently for the first time in his career, unlocking the incredible talent many Albion fans knew was waiting to come out.
He helped Alexis Mac Allister, Pascal Gross and Moises Caicedo grow into even better players, which lead to them all earning moves to some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
De Zerbi has a proven track record of turning careers around and building on the ones that are already thriving. At Spurs, that’s a big selling point. The opportunity to grow under one of the most exciting coaches in world football.
And if you are down and out, there is hope that you can still make something of your career under the 47-year-old. Take Antonin Kinsky for example, totally done under Igor Tudor. A career left to rot. But De Zerbi didn’t see that, so he threw Kinsky in the deep end in a different way. A constructive way. A way that helped him re-discover his form and become Spurs’ number one, earning him a new contract until 2031.
Why the moves make sense
When you look at what De Zerbi has done all throughout his career, not just at Brighton, it’s clear to see why so many players want to be involved in what he’s doing.
De Zerbi represents belief and hope. Belief in the players and belief that they can be nurtured into top talents. The hope is for the players to have themselves.
The players who felt stuck in their careers, get this renewed hope that this fantastic manager can help them transform their career for the better.
During a press conference last season, De Zerbi said: “I want to improve the quality of the play, for sure. I’m looking forward to building a new team. I’m looking forward to calling these players, to speak with them and to introduce the new season and to speak with the new players.
“The club is supportive of recruitment plans for the summer to complete the squad with high-quality players who have the right mentality and spirit. I believe in the players. I think we have to remember who we are, and who the players are. Next season, I’m ready to go stronger.”
When you look at it that way, players choosing Tottenham doesn’t seem so bizarre after all. Because they aren’t really choosing Tottenham at all, they are choosing De Zerbi.
Written by Isabelle Martin
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