Here's what he had to say...
Can I ask you about Franco Baresi (legendary former Milan and Italy defender who passed away today)…
Roberto: “I grew up in Milan academy, when I was 15, 16, I worked a lot with the first team, he's from my city also - I think he was the best defender in the world, great captain, great player, and I'm really, really sad.”
It's a bit of a shock, he was so young…
Roberto: “Young, yes, but I think he had in the last period many, many problems. He was the captain of Milan, but also in the national team, and for the people, I spoke with many players today and they don't know him, they've never watched him as a player, but he was incredible, maybe better than Maldini, and Maldini was another top, top, top, but he was incredible, yes.”
Back to Tottenham, we couldn't see James Maddison out there, is he getting anywhere close to returning to training?
Roberto: “James has a small problem, and like I said, I don't want to take any risks, especially in this part of the season, and especially for James, because he suffered a long injury last season. He’s an important player for us, but for him and for Mateus Fernandes, the same, it's not the right moment to take risk, and we'll work again when we're back in London.”
What's the realistic goal, what goal do you have in mind and how ambitious are you looking to be in 2026/27?
Roberto: “I can answer your question after the transfer market closed. To be honest, I think we are a very strong team, very good players. We are waiting for the players who finished the World Cup in the last period, whether it’s Senesi, Bentancur, Pape Sarr, and then we start to work, like I said, on two things, in soul and in style of play because this season is different than last season. This season we have to play with a clear idea, a clear organisation and then inside of the clear organisation, the best players can show their qualities. We have a lot of big, big players and for that we have to improve in the style of play.”
How much of an inspiration was Franco Baresi to you?
Roberto: “Not as a position on the pitch, no, because he was a defender and I played as an attacker, but as a personality, yes, as a leader. I think his leadership was, with or without words, he was an incredible personality, very strong.”
Spurs fans are very excited about news of you saying there's going to be a Bomba incoming in the transfer window. Are you able to provide more details about this story?
Roberto: “Yes, but Bomba in Italian is different than Bomba in English, I think. You can write what you want, no problem, no pressure, but I said we have to complete the transfer market. I think we have some other players to complete the squad, and the players will be here in the next days. For me, top players, I don't know if their expectations are bigger than two days ago, but we have to go forward and to think to the good of the team, of the club, of the squad, but in Italian it's a different world.
What's the definition in Italian?
Roberto: “I think Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Senesi, Robertson are Bomba. For me, they are top players for us.”
You said you were about 60% done in the window, so since you've signed six players already, can we expect four more?
Roberto: “I think two, maybe three.”
Is there more pressure?
Roberto: “We have zero pressure. You know why? Because one day the taxi man in London stopped me to make the congratulations for the transfer market, and he said, ‘hey, you are spending a lot of money’. I said, 'who are you a fan of?' Arsenal - you have spent the money for a long time in the last three or four years. I think Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, to stay on the top of the table, they have spent money. If you want to compete now for the top of the Premier League and to put Tottenham in the high level, I think we need to bring top players like we are doing.”
Where do you think Conor Gallagher can develop and become an even better player than he already is?
Roberto: “I consider Conor a top player, a top guy, because sometimes you don't know the people, but inside the dressing room, I think it's more important to be a good guy, a right person than a good player. He is both a good player and a good guy. Maybe in the last third of the pitch, he has more quality than he thinks, or maybe than he is showing now. He can score more goals. But when Conor is good, in a good condition, I said last season, and I repeat, we play with one player more, because he is like two players.”
We've seen the inclusion of multiple youth prospects during the tour, how important is it for you to nurture them in a professional environment like this?
Roberto: “For a club like Tottenham, our level is crucial because when you go in the Champions League, Europa League and European competitions, to complete the list for the financial fair play is very, very important. Sometimes people forget the rules of the financial fair play, but it's very important to produce players from the Academy. Now, we are working on three or four, I think, potential very good players, like Luca Williams-Barnett, like Malachi, Mikey Moore, even if he's older. It’s part of my job and I work with the same passion, with the same details, with the same behaviour, because they are important for now and for the future of the club."