Roberto De Zerbi has given a simple verdict on Tottenham’s record signing, saying: “Sandro Tonali is better than I thought”.
Tottenham’s summer transfer spending will go beyond the £300million mark once they have finalised the signing of Savinho from Manchester City for £75m plus up to £10m in add-ons.
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But the most they spent on a signing this summer was when they broke their club-record transfer by spending £100m on midfielder Tonali from Newcastle.
Tonali and De Zerbi have known each other for many years, bonding over their connection to the city of Brescia. It is where De Zerbi is from, and the club where Tonali spent nine years of his youth and senior career.
On Friday, De Zerbi was asked what his initial thoughts have been from the first few weeks of working with the Italy international.
“Sandro Tonali is better than I thought,” De Zerbi said. “He is better than I thought before working with him as a player and as a guy.
“I know his family, his agents, and I know they all are good people.
“I’m very happy to work with him and I think he’s the right player in the right place. Especially because we want to put him inside of the project.
“He has the right qualities, the right personality, the right values, to stay in this place.”
In 32 Premier League games for Newcastle last season, Tonali failed to find the net. But his reputation over recent seasons as a well-balanced midfielder prompted Spurs to make their big-money move for the 26-year-old.
