On 25 July 2026, Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto de Zerbi publicly announced that players who are “not proud and happy to stay” at the club should leave. The comments were made during a press briefing and have immediately sparked speculation about potential departures.
According to BBC Sport, de Zerbi’s statement comes as Tottenham wrestle with a challenging transfer agenda. In his remarks, he implied that any player lacking genuine enthusiasm or pride is not fitting into the club’s long‑term plans, potentially prompting moves or an insistence on contract negotiations. The statement echoes wider discussions in the Premier League about which players will remain or exit ahead of next season.
This development follows a series of concerns highlighted in earlier news about decision‑making at Spurs, including speculation about the club’s new director and the ongoing transfer business review, as noted in BBC Sport and The Guardian’s club‑by‑club transfer guide.