Tonali Joins Tottenham for £100m, Cites De Zerbi Influence

Sandro Tonali completed a club-record £100m transfer to Tottenham Hotspur from Newcastle United, citing his relationship with manager Roberto de Zerbi as a significant factor in his decision. Tonali stated that a brief meeting with De Zerbi convinced him that Tottenham was the right choice, as he only needed 10 minutes of conversation to finalize his decision.

Their discussion centered on Brescia, the club both men are connected to; De Zerbi supported and played for Brescia, while Tonali began his career there. De Zerbi had previously attempted to sign Tonali during his tenure at Sassuolo, establishing a "mini-connection" over the years.

After Tottenham secured Premier League survival, De Zerbi reached out to Tonali about a potential move, and the midfielder expressed interest. Further discussions took place at Tonali's home near Brescia, where he gained insight into De Zerbi's plans and ambitions for the club.

Tonali aims to help Tottenham improve following a challenging previous season.