Roberto De Zerbi has admitted he was left disappointed by the departure of several of Tottenham’s senior players this summer, but football is football.
While there has been a flurry of new signings in north London this summer transfer window, there has equally been a mass exodus.
Eleven players have since departed from N17 either permanently or on loan – a figure that could still rise before the summer transfer window slams shut.
Amongst those sold are senior players including Cristian Romero and Djed Spence, while Guglielmo Vicario was sent out on loan.
Their respective sales have fetched Tottenham a whopping £204.2m so far this summer.
Roberto De Zerbi reveals disappointment over departures but insists commitment is key at Tottenham
Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi has now opened up on how he felt following the departure of some of his senior players this summer transfer window.
The former Brighton manager admits that he was left disappointed when Romero, Spence and Vicario asked to leave north London.
However, he explains that while he had a good relationship with these players, he would rather have stars who are fully committed to Tottenham.
Speaking on the departure of Spence, Romero and Vicario, De Zerbi told football.london: “First of all, I’m really disappointed with Djed, because I love him, we have a great relationship, he’s a very good guy, he’s a very important player, but in the end I have to respect, if he wants to play 38 games, I can’t give my word, any guarantee for the players, especially if we are building a big competition inside of the squad.
“Right-back is, I think in this moment, one, maybe the best, maybe one of the three best right backs in the world [in Pedro Porro]. In the left-back we have Udogie and Robertson, and both are big, big level, and if you don’t want to stay anymore in Tottenham, in a big club, you have to leave.
“Like Cuti [Romero], like with Cuti, the same relationship with Spence. Vicario for example, Vicario called me on Wednesday when he left. I’m sorry but football is like this.
“I think if I spoke at the beginning of my press conference about the soul, to find the soul, every one of us, they have to stay here with the right spirit, proud to stay here, and with great ambitions, great motivation, otherwise it’s tough, one season with me without motivation and without ambition, it becomes tough for everyone.”
Spurs move quickly to secure replacements for departing trio
While the departure of these players creates a big void, Tottenham Hotspur have done a good job in securing replacements.
In goal, Antonin Kinsky looks like a capable replacement for the on-loan Vicario, while Jan Paul van Hecke has shown that he can fill the void left by Cristian Romero once he settles into life in N17.
As for Djed Spence, Tottenham have a young Archie Gray as his replacement. The 20-year-old is equally as versatile, capable of featuring at full-back, centre-back and even in midfield.
Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie look like the first choices at right and left-back, so one can understand Spence’s decision to seek more minutes elsewhere.