Lucas Bergvall must have ‘right spirit’ to stay at Tottenham – Roberto De Zerbi
By George Sessions, Press Association
Roberto De Zerbi wants to keep Lucas Bergvall at Tottenham but insists the young midfielder must have the “right spirit” to stay.
Bergvall made his first start of pre-season in Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Sydney FC on Wednesday but his future at the club remains uncertain, the Press Association understands.
The 20-year-old experienced a difficult 2025-26 campaign where he made only 17 starts and featured regularly out of position. It has been followed by big-money signings Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes arriving this summer to provide competition in the centre of midfield.
PA understands bids by Nottingham Forest and Newcastle for Bergvall this month have been rejected but the 20-year-old could still exit Tottenham before the end of the transfer window due to his desire to play regularly during the upcoming season.
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Even though De Zerbi spoke positively about the Swedish international staying at Spurs after the draw with Sydney, there remains an element of the unknown regarding immediate plans for Bergvall.
Sources close to the player claim there has been no dialogue between De Zerbi and Bergvall for two months. This appeared to be confirmed by De Zerbi on Saturday when he stated “I have not spoken to Lucas yet” during a press conference in New Zealand.
However, on Wednesday, De Zerbi told reporters: “I am speaking with (Bergvall) before the end of the last season, during the World Cup two times but now we are speaking better, face to face, without a competition in this moment.”
Asked if Bergvall had expressed a desire to leave, De Zerbi said: “No, never.
“I’m always being very clear with him and with you. I would like that he stays with us. I think he’s potentially a top, top, top player, but then I don’t want to convince anyone to stay.
“Tottenham is already, without me, a top club and we are not to convince anyone to stay. He can find the space if he stays with us.
“The competition within the players will be very strong because we are Tottenham and we have to build a strong squad. Not just 11 players.
“It’s very clear, his idea. He wants space. He wants to play as a double pivot as a position. I can’t give, for any player in the world, the place in the first XI guaranteed, especially for me, I want to be honest with the players. I want to be clear.”
Mathys Tel scored in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Sydney, which ended with a penalty shoot-out won 4-2 by the Premier League side after a panenka penalty by 17-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett, but Bergvall’s future dominated the post-match agenda for De Zerbi.
“I would like that he stays. I would like that he stays, but if he doesn’t want, then what can I do? Nothing,” De Zerbi said. “He has to speak with Vinai (Venkatesham) or Johan Lange. To stay with us, we have to have the right spirit to stay. He’s a good guy. We will see in the next weeks.”
