Roberto De Zerbi has introduced a no-phones policy at mealtimes as part of his effort to forge a genuine collective out of Tottenham Hotspur's expensively assembled squad.

The measure was enforced during the club's warm-weather training camp in Marbella, with De Zerbi determined to strip away distractions and encourage his players to connect with one another away from the pitch.

The initiative reflects the Italian manager's belief that team spirit is built off the field as much as on it — and that a group of expensive individuals must be moulded into something more cohesive before they can consistently perform as a unit.