Roberto De Zerbi has told Lucas Bergvall he would like him to stay at Tottenham, but said he will not beg the 20-year-old midfielder or promise him a place in his starting line-up. The comments came after Tottenham drew 1-1 with Sydney FC in a pre-season friendly in Australia, which Spurs won 4-2 on penalties.
Bergvall started the match before being replaced at half-time. The Sweden international is admired by Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, among other clubs, and has held talks with De Zerbi about his situation.
"I would like that he stays with us," De Zerbi said of Bergvall. "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, especially considering a lot of injuries we suffered in the last two, three seasons," he said. "Football is going in a clear direction. To compete for the highest places in the table, you have to manage 22, 23, 24 players. I don't want 24, but 21, 22, of a high level, for sure."
De Zerbi said he had spoken with Bergvall before the end of last season and twice during the World Cup, and that they were now speaking face to face without a competition ongoing. "His position is very clear for me now," he said. "I needed time to understand the characteristics of the players. But I would like that he stays with us. He's very young, a very good player, a good guy. It's not so easy so fast to find a young player of that level."
De Zerbi acknowledged there is room for improvement. "It's very clear, his idea. He wants space (in the team). 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," he said. "It's right when he wants to play as a central midfielder. But to play as a central midfielder, sometimes it is to attack, sometimes to keep the holder, to move the ball faster. He has to improve. He's a 2006."
"But if he doesn't want, then what can I do? Nothing," De Zerbi added. "He has to speak with Vinai (Venkatesham, chief executive) or Johan Lange (sporting director). 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."
As with Chelsea starting Liam Delap against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, Bergvall's start suggests no move is immediately imminent. Spurs are still looking to add to their squad this summer despite an already heavy spend, with attackers a particular focus.
Spurs starlets spot-on
The 1-1 draw was settled by a penalty shootout to decide the Sydney Super Cup. Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and his goalkeeping coach ran through instructions before the shootout began.
Luca Williams-Barnett, a 17-year-old academy graduate who had been shooting throughout the match, stepped up first and converted a Panenka down the middle. Tonali, Andy Robertson and Dane Scarlett also scored as Spurs won the shootout 4-2.
Robertson's steady debut
Robertson, 32, wore the captain's armband on his first pre-season appearance for the club after coming on as a substitute. The Scot should have set up two goals, with 20-year-old Min-Hyeok Yang twice failing to convert crosses from him.
De Zerbi was seen jumping up and down in frustration on the touchline after Yang failed to deliver a cross at the end of one attacking move. Yang has been sent on three loan spells to Championship clubs since signing for Spurs when he turned 18 in January 2025.
Robertson continued to push forward down the left flank in an attacking role. He was denied a late winner only by the fingertips of Sydney goalkeeper Gus Hoefsloot at the Allianz Stadium.
Injury worry for one player
De Zerbi fielded a young starting line-up for Sunday's 2-0 win over Auckland FC in New Zealand, resting his senior players apart from Archie Gray. That followed a 30-hour trip from the other side of the world and training sessions described as gruelling.
Several first-team players did return for the Sydney fixture, including Richarlison and Mathys Tel. Manor Solomon, however, was seen with an ice pack on his left thigh after being substituted.
Rivalry resumed Down Under
Tottenham and Chelsea sent representatives to an event on the Sydney shoreline earlier in the week to promote the Australian tour. Spurs sent De Zerbi and Micky van de Ven, while Chelsea sent Xabi Alonso and Robert Sanchez.
The event briefly reunited De Zerbi with Sanchez, his former goalkeeper at Brighton, whom De Zerbi had effectively demoted before Sanchez left to join Chelsea. Tottenham are due to face Chelsea in a friendly on Saturday before both clubs leave Australia.
