EPL: Why I joined Tottenham Hotspur - Tonali

Sandro Tonali has revealed that his connection with Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto de Zerbi and their shared roots in Brescia were decisive factors in his club-record £100 million move to Spurs. The Italian midfielder opted for Tottenham despite competing offers from clubs with more recent success.

Tonali stated that a brief meeting with De Zerbi was enough to convince him that Tottenham was the right choice. A significant part of their conversation revolved around Brescia, the Italian club where both men have deep ties. De Zerbi is a supporter and former player of Brescia, while Tonali began his professional football career there.

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We spoke about Brescia, about the difficult situation facing our club.

"We spoke about Brescia, about the difficult situation facing our club," Tonali was quoted as saying, referencing his boyhood team's struggles after relegation. De Zerbi, who had previously attempted to sign Tonali for Sassuolo, maintained a relationship with the player, described by Tonali as a "mini-connection."

After Tottenham secured their Premier League status, De Zerbi contacted Tonali about a potential transfer. Further discussions at Tonali's home near Brescia solidified the player's understanding of the manager's plans. Tonali now aims to contribute to Tottenham's improvement, with De Zerbi's vision serving as a primary motivation for his move to north London.

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I had two weeks there and met him two or three times.