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 for the French forward.

Despite a turbulent Premier League campaign that saw Spurs narrowly avoid relegation by just two points, the Italian has communicated his full trust in the 21-year-old attacker ahead of his first full season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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

Rumours began circulating linking the former Bayern Munich star with a move away, including strong interest from Bournemouth and several European clubs, and 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 the forward 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 and a spectacular 20-yard goal against Leeds United, though the latter also featured a costly, naive penalty conceded by the youngster.

Nonetheless, De Zerbi publicly defended him, emphasising that mistakes are part of a young player’s development.