Roberto De Zerbi has openly confirmed that he wants Tottenham Hotspur to sign Joao Palhinha permanently after the midfielder played another decisive role in the club’s successful fight for Premier League survival.
Palhinha scored the crucial goal in Spurs’ tense final-day clash against Everton, calmly converting after his initial header bounced back off the post. The strike eased the nerves inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and ultimately secured Tottenham’s place in the top flight despite West Ham’s 3-0 victory over Leeds United.
The Portuguese midfielder has become one of Tottenham’s standout performers during the closing weeks of the season, having also scored the late winner against Wolves that sparked the club’s survival turnaround under De Zerbi.
Spurs are believed to hold an option to make Palhinha’s move permanent for around £22million, and De Zerbi made no attempt to hide his desire to keep the experienced midfielder in north London.
Speaking after the Everton victory, the Italian said:
“Yes, I would like to keep him, 100 per cent.
“We have to start from these people. Before we speak about the players, we have to speak about the people.
“I can’t promise everyone a place in the first eleven because I want competition in every position, but for sure I would like him to stay with me.”
De Zerbi also grouped Palhinha alongside key figures such as Conor Gallagher and Rodrigo Bentancur, highlighting the mentality and character he wants to build his new Tottenham project around.
The Spurs boss has repeatedly stressed the importance of rebuilding the squad with leaders and experienced players after a chaotic campaign that nearly ended in relegation. Palhinha’s influence both on and off the pitch appears to have convinced De Zerbi that the midfielder should be part of the club’s future plans.
With Tottenham now preparing for a major summer rebuild, Palhinha’s future could become one of the first major decisions made by the club hierarchy.
