Roberto De Zerbi has issued an unambiguous message to any Tottenham Hotspur player who is unhappy at the club: the door is open, and they should use it. The Spurs manager made his position clear ahead of a pre-season friendly against Auckland FC in New Zealand.

"I was very clear at the start of my time in Tottenham," De Zerbi told the club's official website. "Whoever doesn't want to stay in Tottenham — who is not happy, and is not proud to stay here — has to leave."

"I want the players to be proud and happy to stay here, to go onto the pitch in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a big motivation. Because now in football, if you think about the World Cup, motivation makes the difference."

Bergvall's place in doubt

The remarks carry particular weight given the uncertainty surrounding midfielder Lucas Bergvall. Tottenham have already committed significant resources to two new midfielders this summer — Sandro Tonali arrived from Newcastle United for £100 million, while Mateus Fernandes joined from West Ham United in a deal worth £85 million.

Those arrivals have fuelled speculation about the 20-year-old Bergvall's long-term role at the club. De Zerbi acknowledged he had not yet spoken directly with the young midfielder, but said a resolution was close.

"I have not spoken with Lucas yet," De Zerbi said. "I will in the next days and we will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us, without problems. Lucas is a big, big talent."

The Spurs manager also signalled that squad competition would intensify across all positions. "There will be a big competition to play because at the end, I think we will be two players for each position," he added.

A decision for everyone

De Zerbi stressed that any departure, should Bergvall choose to leave, would be handled in consultation with sporting director Johan Lange and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham. "If he wants to stay, I will be happy," De Zerbi said. "Otherwise, we have to find a new solution with Johan Lange, with Vinai. It's not my business after the decision to leave."

Beyond the midfield question, De Zerbi confirmed that Tottenham are still pursuing additions in attacking positions, suggesting the club's summer business is far from finished.