Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has disclosed that any players who are unhappy or not proud to stay at the club must leave.
The comments arrived ahead of a pre-season friendly against Auckland FC in New Zealand, amid ongoing transfer speculation surrounding midfielder Lucas Bergvall.
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Spurs have already spent heavily on new signings like Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, but De Zerbi noted that the squad’s attacking positions are still targeting further additions.
“I was very clear at the start of my time in Tottenham. I said, ‘whoever doesn’t want to stay in Tottenham?’ Who is not happy, and is not proud to stay here, has to leave, De Zerbi told the club’s website.
“I want the players to be proud and happy to stay here, to go onto the pitch in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a big motivation. Because now in football, if you think about the World Cup, motivation makes the difference.
“The motivation is to be happy to stay in one team.”
Uncertainty has grown concerning Bergvall’s future following the summer arrivals of midfielders Sandro Tonali, a £100m signing from Newcastle, and Mateus Fernandes from West Ham in a deal worth £85m.
De Zerbi admitted he had not yet talked with 20-year-old Bergvall, but insisted the situation would be cleared up over the next few days.
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“I have not spoken with Lucas yet,” De Zerbi said. “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.
“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.”
