Roberto De Zerbi did not waste any time in reaching out to his summer transfer targets, having spoken to many of them long before Tottenham avoided relegation.
Several of Spurs’ six summer signings have admitted that their conversation with the Tottenham boss was crucial to them making the move to N17.
Mateus Fernandes recently admitted that De Zerbi promised to be his second dad, and even spoke to his parents to convince them about the project.
Meanwhile, Sandro Tonali has described his conversation with the Spurs boss as ‘magic’, confessing that his mind was made up as soon as he spoke with the 46-year-old.
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi reveals why he likes to talk to transfer targets
The Tottenham boss’s ability to convince players has proven to be the North London club’s biggest weapon so far this summer, and supporters will hope that continues.
De Zerbi has explained that he wants the players to feel a special connection with him, which is why he prefers to contact them directly rather than allowing the club’s sporting director to reach out.
When asked why he loves speaking directly with the club’s transfer targets, the Italian told Football.London: “I don’t know why I love it, maybe because when you take the decision, you take the responsibility, but I think if the coach calls the player, you can build a special connection at the beginning with them.
“The player knows you are the key for this transfer, and maybe this player feels they have to give you back something more than if, for example, Johan Lange calls the player.”
De Zerbi reveals he gave Jan Paul van Hecke no choice but to join Spurs
The Tottenham boss has already revealed he reached out to Sandro Tonali before the club’s penultimate game of last season against Chelsea, to inform the midfielder that he would come for him if he kept the Lilywhites up.
He has now revealed that he texted Jan Paul van Hecke about joining him in North London soon after his side’s 2-2 draw with Brighton in April.
De Zerbi added: “With Mateus Fernandes, I spoke with his parents. With JP [Van Hecke], after the Everton game, I sent the message ‘F*** off, you wanted to send down Tottenham for Brighton when you made the assist to Georginio Rutter, now you have to come to me, yes or yes, you have no choice!’.
“It was straight after the game, right in my dressing room, my office in the Tottenham stadium, I sent a message to my daughter, and then JP. I am excited when we close the deal, yes, but not for the player, because we can play with JP, without JP, with Tonali, without Tonali, but I think it’s a different relationship, it’s a different atmosphere.”