Tottenham Hotspur have splashed around £230m on six new recruits this summer in what has been a spending spree for the ages under Roberto De Zerbi.
The Lilywhites aren’t done yet and could well bring in 2-3 more players based on market opportunities.
One of the players who joined Tottenham earlier this summer was Jan Paul van Hecke, who De Zerbi knows quite well from his time at Brighton.
And the Italian has revealed a hilarious message he sent to the Dutch international when he asked him to sign for the club.
De Zerbi recounts hilarious Van Hecke episode
Towards the back end of last season, Tottenham played out a 2-2 draw against the Seagulls.
They looked like they were going to win the game, but Van Hecke’s moment of magic set up Georginio Rutter for the equaliser as he beat his man to sell up his former Brighton teammate.
And De Zerbi reveals the foul-mouthed message he sent the Dutchman as that goal could have seemingly sent Tottenham down if they didn’t fix up in the games ahead.
He said via Football London: “With JP [van Hecke], after the Everton game, I sent the message ‘F*** off, you wanted to send down Tottenham for Brighton when you made the assist to Georginio Rutter, now you have to come to me, yes or yes, you have no choice!’.
“It was straight after the game, right in my dressing room, my office in the Tottenham stadium. I sent a message to my daughter, and then JP.”
What a refreshing personality he is proving to be, the boss. A welcome change from the likes of Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor and a proper throwback to the (mostly) good times under Ange Postecoglou, that’s for sure.
