Roberto De Zerbi has told Lucas Bergvall he must show the “right spirit” if he wants to stay at Tottenham amid speculation linking the midfielder with a move away from the club.
The uncertainty comes after Bergvall made his first pre-season start in Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Sydney FC on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old endured a challenging 2025-26 campaign, making only 17 starts and frequently playing out of his preferred position. This summer has seen further competition arrive in the centre of midfield with the big-money signings of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.
It is understood that bids from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle for Bergvall this month have been rejected. However, the midfielder could still depart Tottenham before the transfer window closes, driven by his desire for regular first-team football in the upcoming season.
Despite De Zerbi speaking positively about the Swedish international staying at Spurs after the Sydney draw, an element of the unknown persists regarding immediate plans for Bergvall.
Sources close to the player claim there has been no dialogue between De Zerbi and Bergvall for two months, a sentiment seemingly confirmed by De Zerbi himself on Saturday when he stated, “I have not spoken to Lucas yet” during a press conference in New Zealand.
However, De Zerbi offered a different perspective to reporters on Wednesday, saying: “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.”
When asked if Bergvall had expressed a desire to leave, De Zerbi was unequivocal.
“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 manager stressed the intense competition within the squad.
“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,” he explained. “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 concluded with a penalty shoot-out won 4-2 by the Premier League side after a Panenka penalty by 17-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett. However, Bergvall’s future dominated De Zerbi’s post-match agenda.
“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 reiterated.
“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.”
