Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has offered a strong endorsement of Sandro Tonali, insisting the Italian midfielder is ideally suited to the demands of his system despite a difficult beginning to life in north London.
Tonali arrived at Spurs this summer as one of ten new signings in a spending spree that topped £300 million, yet the club have struggled to settle on a consistent starting eleven. The midfielder's early performances drew scrutiny, particularly after a tough competitive debut against Brentford that led some critics to question whether he could justify his price tag.
De Zerbi revealed he had addressed those concerns directly with his compatriot weeks ago but stressed that the conversation is now firmly in the past. "He doesn't feel the pressure about that. I spoke to him [about it], yes. But it was 15 or 20 days ago, not now," the manager said.
According to De Zerbi, Tonali's adjustment period is nothing unusual for a player uprooting his life for a new city and a new football culture. He drew a comparison to the midfielder's early days at AC Milan to illustrate the point. "We are lucky to have Sandro with us. The adaptation has been not so fast but it can happen, also in Milan in the first season, ok he was younger, but it is not so easy to change city, to change everything for the players," De Zerbi explained. "Sometimes the adaptation is immediate, sometimes you need more time. I think also Tonali with Everton played well."
That performance against Everton saw Tonali look increasingly at ease on the ball, dictating play with the same composure that defined his time at both Milan and Newcastle. Even with Spurs pushing for a breakthrough goal, the 25-year-old remained unhurried, picking out incisive passes that hinted at the influence he could soon wield in De Zerbi's midfield.
The Italian coach has been candid about his squad's physical shortcomings following a disrupted pre-season, admitting his side are still working to close the gap on more settled rivals. Tonali is among several key players whose minutes have been carefully managed to reduce injury risk while that process continues.
Despite the challenges, De Zerbi sees encouraging signs in how his team is evolving. He believes his players are growing more relaxed and decisive in possession as their fitness improves and relationships between teammates strengthen. "I see the players being much more light. Not too much, but the light enough to be clear, to be calm when you have the chance to score, when you have to take the decision calm and the confidence to take the best decision you can. I think it's important now," he said.
Central to De Zerbi's vision is a Tottenham side willing to take greater risks both in and out of possession, and he views Tonali as a crucial piece in achieving that identity. The manager praised the midfielder's tactical flexibility, noting he can operate effectively as a deep-lying playmaker or in a more advanced, box-to-box role.
"He can play in both situations because his physical characteristics are to play box to box but he started his career as a playmaker," De Zerbi said. "He is good enough with the ball, he is good enough without the ball. He is a complete midfielder, like Bergvall, like Mateus Fernandes. They are very close, not as characteristics, but these three players all have characteristics of the modern midfielder."
With Spurs still searching for their first Premier League win and goal, De Zerbi will be hoping Tonali's growing comfort translates into results sooner rather than later.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.