---
title: "‘I love him’ – Roberto De Zerbi admits he’s really disappointed with recent Tottenham departure"
canonical: "https://readtottenham.com/2026/08/21/i-love-him-roberto-de-zerbi-admits-hes-really-disappointed-with-recent-tottenham-departure/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Vishal Subramanian"
section: "Tottenham News"
published: "2026-08-21T18:34:11Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T17:13:08Z"
---

# ‘I love him’ – Roberto De Zerbi admits he’s really disappointed with recent Tottenham departure

**It’s been a summer of change for Tottenham Hotspur under Roberto De Zerbi.**

The Lilywhites have signed as many as six new players and a few more are expected to join the club before the transfer deadline.

In terms of outgoings, three major ones have been confirmed in recent weeks: Djed Spence to Inter Milan, Cristian Romero to Atletico Madrid and Guglielmo Vicario to Juventus.

And De Zerbi admits he was really disappointed with the sale of Spence as he didn’t want to sanction his departure.

## De Zerbi on Spence leaving Tottenham

After a strong 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with England, Spence attracted significant interest from the Premier League and abroad.

Inter Milan eventually secured his signature after he asked to leave Tottenham.

And De Zerbi feels he wanted to keep the versatile full-back at the club and only decided to offload him as the player wanted to leave to be a guaranteed starter.

“First of all, I’m really disappointed with Djed, because I love him, we have a great relationship, he’s a very good guy, he’s a very important player, but in the end I have to respect, if he wants to play 38 games, I can’t give my word, any guarantee for the players, especially if we are building a big competition inside of the squad.

“Right-back is, I think in this moment, one, maybe the best, maybe one of the three best right backs in the world \[in Pedro Porro\].

> Roberto De Zerbi with the latest team news and an update on our new captain and leadership group for the 2026/27 season.
>
> — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) [August 21, 2026](https://x.com/SpursOfficial/status/2090785741102338504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

“In the left-back we have Udogie and Robertson, and both are big, big level, and if you don’t want to stay anymore in Tottenham, in a big club, you have to leave.

“Like Cuti \[Romero\], like with Cuti, the same relationship with Spence. Vicario for example, Vicario called me on Wednesday when he left. I’m sorry but football is like this.”

Every Tottenham fan will admit that they’d have preferred to keep Spence, but he wanted to leave and there’s nothing the club or De Zerbi could have done about it.

​