Roberto De Zerbi Defends Sandro Tonali After Difficult Start at Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi believes the club were fortunate to secure the signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United, despite the midfielder’s difficult start to life in north London.

Tonali arrived at Tottenham for a club-record fee of €100 million, with the Premier League side expecting the Italy international to provide greater stability and quality in the centre of the pitch.

However, Tottenham have struggled to find consistency since the start of the campaign. They have managed just one victory in the League Cup and are yet to record a Premier League win, with their latest setback coming in a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa at home.

The club’s heavy investment of more than £300 million on 10 new signings has yet to produce the expected results, increasing the scrutiny on De Zerbi and several of his new players. Tonali has also attracted criticism after failing to make a decisive contribution during the opening weeks of the season.

De Zerbi, however, remains firmly behind his compatriot and believes Tonali has the qualities required to eventually make a major impact at Tottenham.

“We are lucky to have Sandro. Sometimes adaptation can happen quickly, and sometimes it takes time,” De Zerbi said, as reported by Football London.

“He can play as a No. 6 or a No. 8 because his characteristics make him a box-to-box player. He is a complete midfielder.”

Tonali has made five appearances for Tottenham so far this season but has yet to register a goal or assist. Despite his limited attacking output, De Zerbi believes the midfielder’s work rate and versatility remain valuable assets to the squad.

The former AC Milan midfielder will now turn his attention to international duty after being included in Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures.

Italy are scheduled to face Belgium, Turkey twice and France between the end of September and the middle of October. Tonali will hope international football can provide an opportunity to regain his best form before returning to Tottenham.

For now, De Zerbi remains confident that Tonali can justify Tottenham’s significant investment once he has fully adapted to his new surroundings. With the club still searching for their first Premier League victory, both player and team will be under pressure to find a response in the weeks ahead.