- Joao Palhinha scored the goal that saved Tottenham’s Premier League status
- Midfielder appears to suggest he’s staying at the club
- Roberto De Zerbi clearly rated Palhinha highly
Joao Palhinha scored the solitary goal of the game as Tottenham Hotspur secured a 1-0 win against Everton to avoid relegation.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side came into the game knowing they had to better or match West Ham’s result, with the Hammers beating Leeds United 3-0.
Tottenham came perilously close to the drop and were bailed out by Palhinha on the night after the midfielder scored from close-range in the first half.
His loan spell is set to expire next month, but he has dropped a big hint on his future in his post-match interview.
Palhinha suggests he’s staying at Tottenham
Starting in midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Conor Gallagher, the Portuguese international was the best player on the pitch during the most important game of the season.
He scored an important goal and never stopped running, while he broke up play and kept things ticking in the middle of the park.
In an interview with Sky Sports (via BBC) after the game, Palhinha spoke about Tottenham’s bright future under De Zerbi, which is a sign that he is staying at the club.
It’s an amazing feeling after a really tough season.
“A lot of things happened this season but we showed today what we can do. After a bad season like this one we showed up as a collective and had amazing support from the fans.
“The club will grow up with this season and we know what we have to do in the future. It’s a big pleasure to play here with a top coach and top teammates. We have to celebrate even if we didn’t finish the position we deserve as Tottenham.”
“It was just a goal. I just tried to help the team. I had a lot of emotions and wanted to dedicate it to my two sons and my parents.”
Read Tottenham verdict: Palhinha stays
We wrote immediately after the game that Palhinha should be De Zerbi’s first signing at Tottenham.
The mutual love between the pair has been on display several times over the course of the season. Additionally, De Zerbi even publicly admitted that he wants Palhinha to stay, with Tottenham having the option to sign him for £20m.
To put it bluntly, Tottenham need to give De Zerbi whatever he wants. In such a short span of time, he has breathed new life into the club and saved them from a hole they’d dug for themselves under Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor.
If this is what De Zerbi can do with a limited squad and no new signings, imagine the impact he could make after overseeing a transfer window or two?
The anxious days are over and finally, everyone associated with Totteham can put the wretched 2025-26 campaign behind them and look ahead to the future, under one of the brightest coaches in the world.
