Roberto De Zerbi wants Tottenham to keep French forward Mathys Tel | OneFootball

Roberto De Zerbi has assured Mathys Tel that he will be a key figure for Tottenham Hotspur next season, firmly shutting down speculation over a summer departure.

The Italian has communicated his full trust in the 21-year-old attacker ahead of his first full season with the club.

Tel’s future initially appeared uncertain after a stop-start season under various managers, during which he started in just 13 of his 31 league appearances.

Rumours began circulating that linked the former Bayern Munich star to a move away, with strong interest from Bournemouth and several European clubs.

There was even speculation that Tottenham might use Tel as a makeweight in a player-plus-cash swap deal for high-profile targets.

However, before Tel departed for his summer break, De Zerbi held a private conversation with him to clarify his plans.

According to football.london, the manager made it clear he has no intention of letting Tel leave, explicitly stating that he is counting on him to be a central part of Tottenham’s frontline next season.

De Zerbi’s firm stance is heavily influenced by Tel’s performances during the high-stakes final weeks of the season, including a crucial assist against Aston Villa.

He also scored a spectacular 20-yard goal against Leeds United, although the latter game also featured a naive penalty conceded by the youngster.