Roberto De Zerbi explains why Sandro Tonali can be ‘a leader’ at his new Tottenham Hotspur project, bringing Italian techniques to the Premier League, and learning from Argentina at the World Cup.
The Italian tactician is only 47 years old, but has already worked in Italy, Ukraine, France and England, taking over the Spurs job in March 2026.
He had to drag them out of the relegation zone in the final weeks of the campaign, and is now determined to start afresh in the Premier League with an expensive transfer strategy.
That includes the arrival of fellow Italian Tonali, who cost over €115m to buy from Newcastle United, and it’s reported the coach helped convince him to choose them ahead of Manchester City or Arsenal.
De Zerbi sees Tonali as Tottenham leader
“If I really did convince him, then I can only be happy about that,” De Zerbi told Sky Sport Italia during an in-depth interview.
“I told him the truth, because I always tell players what I really think. I believe he is a player who has always been a leader in every squad he played, so here with a team that is in the process of reconstruction, he can have an important role.
“I was already watching Tonali when he was playing for Brescia, my hometown club and the team I support. At the age of 18, he already looked like a veteran. I think this is something that I and Tottenham can offer him more than other clubs.
“This is my first ‘real’ season at Tottenham, the last was about survival, but this time we can start building something lasting in the most difficult league in Europe.”
Tottenham is De Zerbi’s second Premier League experience after Brighton and Hove Albion, so what are the differences Italians find moving to England?
“You do experience football in a different way in England. There are fewer training retreats, which are important opportunities to spend time together. But it’s also true that in Italy there is a lot more pressure, and we often bring it upon ourselves.
“If you spend time together as a group just to pass time, then you may as well just stay at home. If you spend that time well, creating cohesion and connection with each other, then that is fundamental.
“Just look at the Argentina squad at the World Cup, their team spirit pushed them beyond their limits. It’s not easy, but I think it can be built here too, every bit as important as the style of football.”
Tonali has seen the differences in culture up close, noting that while in Italy there are regular team dinners, he only had two per year at Newcastle for Christmas and at the end of each season.
“In Italy the players do go out together a lot, but I try to bring some of that to my teams, a few dinners together. When I was at Marseille, I organised a training retreat for that reason, so it wasn’t just football, but our lives that we were sharing,” continued De Zerbi.
“However, it depends on the group of players you have, they aren’t all the same.”
