Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has revealed how a foul-mouthed text message and a boozy Mayfair dinner helped save the club from relegation while launching a major summer transfer overhaul. Sitting in his stadium office after a season-ending 1-0 victory over Everton, the 47-year-old Italian immediately messaged his former Brighton player Jan Paul van Hecke to persuade him to join Spurs.
Van Hecke had assisted Georginio Rutter for a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw between Brighton and Tottenham in April. That result left Tottenham with only five fixtures remaining to avoid dropping out of the top flight. Immediately after sending a message to his daughter, De Zerbi texted Van Hecke: "F*** off. You wanted to push 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."
Spurs secured Premier League survival, and Van Hecke subsequently joined Tottenham for £52 million. The club has also completed major moves for Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100 million and Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85 million, alongside free transfers for Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth.
Transfer Overhaul and Personal Connections
Speaking during an interview lasting over an hour inside a temporary boardroom at the InterContinental Hotel in Sydney, Australia, within walking distance of the Sydney Opera House, De Zerbi said Tottenham's summer window is only "60 per cent" complete. Accompanied by his assistant Enrico Venturelli, De Zerbi described himself as a "shark" in the transfer market who thrives on personal contact with targets.
"If the coach calls the player, you can build a special connection at the beginning with the player, because the player knows you are the key for this transfer, and maybe this player feels to have to give you back something more than if Johan Lange calls the player," De Zerbi said. He noted that he personally spoke with the mother and father of Mateus Fernandes during negotiations.
De Zerbi emphasized that human connection is vital to his tactical success. "The most important thing about my job is the relationship I have as a man. Without that relationship I am not able to work. Without the relationship you can’t play good football and have a good style of play. It is 20 per cent coach, 80 per cent the person," he explained. He added that recent recruits bring a winning mentality: "Robertson, I think, is a winner. JP, maybe you don't know, but he's a winner, a leader. Tonali is a winner. What do you think? I fought to bring in players ready to win or not?"
Board Harmony and Financial Strategy
Addressing the club's strategy after two consecutive 17th-placed Premier League finishes, De Zerbi described his relationship with Tottenham's hierarchy as the best connection he has ever had with a board. When discussing squad moves such as Luka Vuskovic requesting to leave, De Zerbi worked directly alongside chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange.
"The request of Vuskovic, we spoke with Vinai, with Johan, together, because the money of my club, I consider my money," De Zerbi said. "It’s like the owner is my father. You don't want to ask your father to spend money or to lose money, and if we bring in a player, if we sell a player, it's one family. OK, we are spending money, but we are spending money for the plan, for the project."
De Zerbi explained that top European clubs must balance buying and selling without hesitation. "The top clubs now, they are not worried about selling players. No. Even Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, when they have to sell, they have to sell. Right price. You don't have to be shy. But when you have to spend money, you have to do that. Strong, fast, quickly, the right player, the right investment," he said.
Turning Around a Relegation Battle
De Zerbi insisted he would have stayed at Tottenham even if the team had been relegated. The turning point in their survival fight came following his first league game in charge, a 1-0 defeat away at Sunderland.
"I saw the players after Sunderland in the dressing room," De Zerbi recalled. "I didn’t tell you in the press conference, but it was like this: all people crying, lying down on the floor in the dressing room. I said, 'We pass away?' and I tried to transfer positivity and to observe the situation from another perspective. I was honest. People inside the training ground were sad and negative."
The next day, De Zerbi called a staff-only meeting without the squad. "The first day after Sunderland, I organised a meeting without the players and I said, 'The first one I see say something negative, I will send you home immediately. I don't want to see anyone sad, negative, crying. If you stay positive, I give you my word we will stay together here,'" he said.
To restore morale, De Zerbi organized a team dinner in Mayfair at Bacchanalia that included alcohol. "Alcohol is a good medicine. If you enjoy normally and seriously. Not as stupid people. I believe in staying together," he said. He credited that atmosphere with transforming player performance: "In sport, between the players and the coach, if you have respect and values, it’s much better, and with love, friendship, care, you become top, top, top. Respect is normal. If I believe in you, it’s much better. But if I love you, you become unbelievable."
Squad Management and Goalkeeping Decision
De Zerbi confirmed that Antonin Kinsky will be Tottenham's first-choice goalkeeper next season. Kinsky previously suffered public humiliation when former manager Igor Tudor substituted him after 17 minutes while 3-0 down against Atletico Madrid. However, Kinsky produced a standout performance during Spurs' recent 2-1 pre-season victory against Chelsea in Sydney.
"Me as a player, as a student at school, when I felt the relationship with the teacher, with the coach, I gave my best," De Zerbi said of his belief in Kinsky. "If I didn't feel the connection, if I didn't feel he appreciated me, the teacher or the coach, I close myself, we start a war."
Upon taking charge, De Zerbi conducted extensive one-on-one meetings with squad members. His explicit message to those considering a transfer was direct: "Help me stay up, then I will help you to leave. If you don't help me stay up, then you stay underwater with me."
He singled out Tottenham captain Cristian Romero for praise, describing his response as "unbelievable" while acknowledging Romero could still depart with his full gratitude. Regarding players like Djed Spence and Lucas Bergvall, De Zerbi instructed them to speak directly with Venkatesham and Lange if they wish to move, stating he does not negotiate transfer valuations of £30 million or £40 million because he wants to remain focused solely on coaching.
Rules, Freedom, and Managerial Philosophy
De Zerbi rejects strict disciplinary rules, preferring to grant players creative freedom on and off the pitch. "They have to do what they want without rules. I don't love rules. I read a book where it was written that creative people don't follow rules. I would like creative players. I don't want to set any rules," he stated, adding that he enforces only two or three core standards regarding togetherness.
"I am not a policeman. Not with my children. Freedom. Total freedom. One is one. Every day we have to push. Every day we have to deserve to stay here or to play football or to earn our money," De Zerbi added. Asked how he responds if someone betrays his trust, he remarked: "What do you want to know? If I punch the player? Nothing, but I know to be stronger when I have to do something."
Despite earning praise from top managers such as Pep Guardiola and Enzo Maresca, De Zerbi admitted the compliments make him shy. "I become shy. I am not used to that and I don't think I will ever get used to it," De Zerbi said. "We are lucky because we started from the s*** of football."
