Roberto De Zerbi could not hide his enthusiasm after Tottenham Hotspur’s busy summer transfer window, describing the new arrivals as "bomba" – a slang term he uses to label a player of exceptional quality. The club has invested roughly £320 million in seven first‑team acquisitions and secured a loan deal for Omar Marmoush, a clear signal that the North London side is aiming to transform a roster that barely avoided relegation last season.
De Zerbi, who was instrumental in shaping the club’s transfer strategy, has repeatedly referred to the incoming talent as "bomba" on social media, a word that in his lexicon simply means a great player. Speaking to Sky Sports News’ Michael Bridge before the Saturday Night Football encounter with Newcastle United, the manager beamed, "In my vocabulary 'bomba' is a great player. I’m extremely pleased – we have added a host of very good players, especially because they were eager to join us.
I want our squad to feel proud and motivated, because in modern football you need ambition and drive to achieve results." He continued, "At the moment we have a fantastic squad, a solid team. We might still need to sign another player and off‑load a couple, but overall we are very, very happy with where we stand." This optimism follows a season in which Spurs narrowly escaped the drop, a situation that forced De Zerbi to request significant reinforcements to secure top‑flight status.
The manager’s enthusiasm is not merely rhetorical. Several of the new signings have publicly praised De Zerbi’s personal outreach, noting that his phone calls were instrumental in convincing them to commit to the Spurs project.
When asked about these conversations, De Zerbi modestly replied, "Nothing special – I live for passion and football. I explain the project – not my personal project – and they decided to come on board.
We are proud of that decision." De Zerbi’s influence, however, goes beyond persuasive words. When he took over at the end of the previous campaign, the odds of rescuing Tottenham were far from certain.
Yet he guided the team through a crucial run of fixtures, culminating in a dramatic final‑day victory over Everton that secured their Premier League status. Reflecting on that moment, De Zerbi described it as "big emotion, big memories" and called it perhaps the best day of his career, not because of the target but because of the intense, seven‑week battle that preceded it. The manager is acutely aware that every point in the Premier League must be earned.
This reality was evident in the opening weekend of the new season when his side, featuring several of the fresh faces, were outplayed by Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. De Zerbi acknowledged the defeat, emphasizing that while individual names matter less, collective effort, discipline, and quality are essential. "To achieve results you have to fight, run, and play well.
The quality we have signed is a crucial first step," he said. He also highlighted the need for patience as the new group learns to work together. "Finding the right balance and connection between players takes time. You need to understand each teammate’s characteristics to create organisation on the pitch.
It doesn’t happen instantly," De Zerbi explained. He admitted that the Brentford loss exposed areas for improvement, noting that Tottenham possessed the talent to compete but failed to execute their game plan effectively. Looking ahead, De Zerbi’s ambition is for his revamped Spurs to demonstrate their potential in the upcoming home fixture against Newcastle United.
He believes the quality of the signings will enable the team to be sharper and more resilient, but stresses that the players must translate that quality into performance. "The name of the players is not crucial; what matters is how we fight and execute on the field," he reiterated. Beyond the tactical aspects, De Zerbi’s broader vision for Tottenham involves building a squad that is not only technically proficient but also deeply motivated. He wants his players to feel a sense of pride in wearing the Spurs badge, to be eager to stay at the club, and to chase ambitious goals together.
This cultural shift, combined with the financial backing that facilitated the summer spending spree, sets the stage for a potentially transformative season. In summary, De Zerbi’s message to fans and players alike is clear: the club has made significant strides in the transfer market, the new signings are of high calibre, and the team is poised to grow stronger as the season progresses. While there are still pieces to the puzzle – potential additional signings and a few departures – the overall sentiment within the Tottenham camp is one of optimism and determination.
The upcoming matches, particularly the clash with Newcastle, will serve as early tests of how quickly the new squad can gel and translate its talent into tangible results on the Premier League stage.