Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham this summer as the club’s most expensive signing, with Spurs reportedly spending a record £100 million to secure the midfielder from Newcastle.
The 26-year-old is also believed to be earning around £250,000 a week, making him Tottenham’s highest-paid player and placing huge expectations on him from the outset.
However, Tonali has yet to hit top form in Tottenham’s opening two Premier League fixtures, with both games ending in defeats against Brentford and Newcastle.
De Zerbi warns Tonali may need time
After the defeat to Newcastle, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi admitted that Tonali is still working towards full physical sharpness, despite having enjoyed a complete pre-season.
When asked about the midfielder’s fitness and performances, De Zerbi suggested Spurs supporters may need to be patient before seeing Tonali at his absolute best — potentially even into his second season.
Speaking to Football.London, De Zerbi referenced Tonali’s time at AC Milan, where the midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign before becoming a crucial figure in his second season as Milan went on to win the Serie A title.
The Tottenham boss said he remains hopeful Tonali can reach a high level during his first season in north London, but stressed that adapting to a new club, teammates and tactical system naturally takes time.
Tonali faces huge pressure
Tottenham’s decision to spend heavily on players with Premier League experience was driven partly by the desire for immediate results.
Although Tonali deserves time to settle into De Zerbi’s tactics and adapt to life at Spurs, the £100 million price tag means expectations will inevitably be enormous.
Football has seen several big-name players struggle under the weight of massive transfer fees, and managing that pressure could become one of Tonali’s biggest tests in north London.
For Tottenham, the priority will be seeing their record signing rediscover the form and influence that convinced the club to invest such a staggering amount in him.
