Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has warned that any player not proud to represent the club should seek a move, as his side launched their pre-season tour with a 2-0 win over Auckland FC at Eden Park on Sunday. Speaking before the match, De Zerbi said he had been "very clear" since arriving in March that those who are "not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave." The comments came amid uncertainty over midfielder Lucas Bergvall, for whom Nottingham Forest have had a £38m offer turned down, with a second bid of £45m expected.

De Zerbi, who took over with the club in relegation danger and steered them to safety, insisted that motivation and pride were non-negotiable. "I want the players to be proud and happy to stay here, to go on the pitch in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with big motivation," he told reporters. Bergvall, a 20-year-old Sweden international, made only four substitute appearances under De Zerbi last season after starting his first match. The manager confirmed he had not yet spoken to the player but would do so in the coming days to "make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me." Tottenham have already invested heavily, with Sandro Tonali arriving for £100m from Newcastle United and Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham, while Indonesian media reported the total summer outlay has reached approximately £237m. De Zerbi said the "target is to complete the attacking positions" with further signings.

On the pitch, a largely second-string Spurs side secured victory through goals from academy product Dane Scarlett and substitute Richarlison. Scarlett opened the scoring in the 12th minute, pouncing on a rebound, before Mathys Tel set up Richarlison to double the lead after the break. The match, played in heavy rain, drew a record crowd of 40,112 for a men's football fixture in New Zealand, surpassing the previous mark set during a 2017 World Cup qualifier. De Zerbi rested most senior players, with only new signing Fernandes featuring among the starters, while Tonali missed the trip with a minor injury and defenders Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson were not yet match fit. Winger Mohammed Kudus is close to returning from a thigh problem, but Dejan Kulusevski's knee injury requires further assessment.

Tottenham are seeking to rebuild after finishing 17th in the Premier League last season, narrowly avoiding relegation. The tour continues with matches against Sydney FC on Wednesday and a London derby against Chelsea on Saturday, both in Australia. De Zerbi indicated that new recruits would be integrated gradually, and the club's transfer business is not yet complete. The immediate focus, however, will be on resolving Bergvall's situation, with the manager stating that if the player wishes to leave, "we have to find a new solution." The outcome of those talks is expected to shape the final weeks of Tottenham's pre-season preparations.