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Reported by The Telegraph, Spurs have received a latest blow in a tumultuous season as one long-time sponsor has already decided to cut ties with the club at the end of the campaign, as the damage caused by a prospective Premier League relegation fight becomes increasingly clear.

The unnamed sponsor has informed the club that their partnership will terminate at the end of the 2025/26 season, regardless of which division in which Spurs find themselves, with several factors believed to be at the centre of the breakdown in relationship with the well-known company. The deal was believed to have earnt Spurs millions over a number of years.

Sources have named Spurs’ decision to effectively sacrifice the Premier League under Ange Postecoglou last season, despite knowing the lucrative nature of the finances available, as a key factor. Sponsors are worried that a second disappointing season domestically this term could become an ongoing trend in future years unless new interim head coach Igor Tudor can turn things around, and deemed last term’s 17th-placed finish ‘unacceptable’.

A source told The Telegraph: “There has been no explanation from the club or acknowledgement of the domestic performance concerns from the club. Instead, their messaging was focused on the Europa League, which is not the tier of competition global sponsors expect from a so-called ‘elite club’.”

The growing disillusionment from home fans which has led to empty seats and a toxic atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on matchdays is also cited as a factor, with a source saying: “Who wants to be associated with a club that is disliked by its own fans and nobody wants to entertain clients in a stadium that is not full and where people are angry? That is the reality.”

It is a concerning reality for sponsors when their branding is displayed inside a stadium which is half-empty and not happy, with Tottenham sponsors reportedly believing that declining attendance figures and fan satisfaction are impacting the perceived value of their sponsorship deals.

Furthermore, Spurs have shown that they lag behind their ‘big six’ rivals in terms of pulling power for high-profile transfers, with the likes of Arsenal hijack Eberechi Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White and Antoine Semenyo all snubbing the north London outfit in the last two transfer windows. The exit of Daniel Levy is also seen as a negative by sponsors, who felt greatly respected by the former chairman and have on occasion been left strikingly out of the loop by the new leadership structure.

Spurs could yet lose further sponsorship deals by the end of the season, while exit clauses are reportedly included in many deals.

A source told The Telegraph: “Even where agreements appear to be long-term or multi-year partnerships, they typically include termination or exit clauses that are not just based on relegation or European qualification. Some might even have the right to renegotiate their deals at the end of each contract year.

“That’s why some sponsors are already looking at the situation and making decisions even more seeing how the season ends. It might not only be one company who terminates.”

Earlier this week, a Tottenham spokesperson said: “We don’t disclose the commercial terms of our agreements with partners, this approach to confidentiality is standard in most industries.”

Reporting continues that while one of Spurs’ sponsorship agreements has already been confirmed to be over, another company also see a deal come to a conclusion with the Lilywhites at the end of the season and have yet to negotiate a renewal. A further company is also believed to be ‘considering their options’, and many remaining deals include lucrative bonuses based on European qualification which look almost certain to be missed out on.

The reality appears to be that until things improve for Spurs in the Premier League, issues off the field will only continue to multiply.

The 16-year-old right-back has already integrated himself into the Spurs setup, having featured for the Under-16 side in a Premier League Cup fixture against Manchester City earlier this month. His performance during that trial period was enough to convince the Tottenham hierarchy to move quickly. Jobling had been a regular in Chelsea’s youth categories, featuring for both their U16 and U17 teams this season, but he now finds himself on the opposite side of the London divide as he prepares to transition into full-time professional football.

The acquisition of Jobling is seen as a significant win for the Tottenham academy, especially given his status as an international captain. He will initially join up with Jamie Carr’s U18 squad, a team that has faced a challenging campaign with 10 wins from 24 league games and is in need of defensive reinforcement. The path for Jobling is already clearly mapped out by the club; he is expected to sign his first professional contract when he celebrates his 17th birthday later this year, ensuring his long-term future remains at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Despite the change in club colours, Jobling’s international stock remains high. He is expected to be Tottenham’s sole representative for England’s Under-16s when the national side takes on Denmark, Spain and France this week. His departure from Cobham marks a rare instance of Chelsea allowing a youth captain to leave for a local rival, a move that could come back to haunt the Blues if the marauding full-back fulfils his significant potential under the guidance of the Spurs coaching staff.

Jobling is not the only high-profile arrival at the Hotspur Way training ground in recent weeks, as Spurs continue to bolster their youth ranks with elite talent from across the country. The club have been incredibly active in the market, having recently secured the services of Elisha Sowunmi after the player declined a new contract at West Ham. Furthermore, Spurs won a hard-fought battle against Arsenal to sign James Wilson on loan from Hearts, signalling a clear intent to dominate the local recruitment landscape.

This surge in academy activity comes at a time when the pathway to the first team is under intense scrutiny. Supporters have previously voiced concerns regarding the lack of opportunities for homegrown graduates, particularly under former regimes.

However, the arrival of interim manager Igor Tudor has brought a fresh wave of optimism for the club's younger players. Unlike his predecessor, Tudor is expected to provide a more transparent bridge between the youth setup and the senior squad. There is a growing belief that the current crop of academy stars will have genuine opportunities to impress the first-team staff, as evidenced by Wilson being pictured in senior training sessions ahead of the upcoming North London Derby.

For Jobling, the move represents a fresh start and a chance to prove his former club wrong. While Chelsea’s loss is undoubtedly Tottenham’s gain, the pressure will now be on the youngster to replicate his international form in a Spurs shirt.

The 16-year-old right-back has already integrated himself into the Spurs setup, having featured for the Under-16 side in a Premier League Cup fixture against Manchester City earlier this month. His performance during that trial period was enough to convince the Tottenham hierarchy to move quickly. Jobling had been a regular in Chelsea’s youth categories, featuring for both their U16 and U17 teams this season, but he now finds himself on the opposite side of the London divide as he prepares to transition into full-time professional football.

The acquisition of Jobling is seen as a significant win for the Tottenham academy, especially given his status as an international captain. He will initially join up with Jamie Carr’s U18 squad, a team that has faced a challenging campaign with 10 wins from 24 league games and is in need of defensive reinforcement. The path for Jobling is already clearly mapped out by the club; he is expected to sign his first professional contract when he celebrates his 17th birthday later this year, ensuring his long-term future remains at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Despite the change in club colours, Jobling’s international stock remains high. He is expected to be Tottenham’s sole representative for England’s Under-16s when the national side takes on Denmark, Spain and France this week. His departure from Cobham marks a rare instance of Chelsea allowing a youth captain to leave for a local rival, a move that could come back to haunt the Blues if the marauding full-back fulfils his significant potential under the guidance of the Spurs coaching staff.

Jobling is not the only high-profile arrival at the Hotspur Way training ground in recent weeks, as Spurs continue to bolster their youth ranks with elite talent from across the country. The club have been incredibly active in the market, having recently secured the services of Elisha Sowunmi after the player declined a new contract at West Ham. Furthermore, Spurs won a hard-fought battle against Arsenal to sign James Wilson on loan from Hearts, signalling a clear intent to dominate the local recruitment landscape.

This surge in academy activity comes at a time when the pathway to the first team is under intense scrutiny. Supporters have previously voiced concerns regarding the lack of opportunities for homegrown graduates, particularly under former regimes.

However, the arrival of interim manager Igor Tudor has brought a fresh wave of optimism for the club's younger players. Unlike his predecessor, Tudor is expected to provide a more transparent bridge between the youth setup and the senior squad. There is a growing belief that the current crop of academy stars will have genuine opportunities to impress the first-team staff, as evidenced by Wilson being pictured in senior training sessions ahead of the upcoming North London Derby.

For Jobling, the move represents a fresh start and a chance to prove his former club wrong. While Chelsea’s loss is undoubtedly Tottenham’s gain, the pressure will now be on the youngster to replicate his international form in a Spurs shirt.

The 16-year-old right-back has already integrated himself into the Spurs setup, having featured for the Under-16 side in a Premier League Cup fixture against Manchester City earlier this month. His performance during that trial period was enough to convince the Tottenham hierarchy to move quickly. Jobling had been a regular in Chelsea’s youth categories, featuring for both their U16 and U17 teams this season, but he now finds himself on the opposite side of the London divide as he prepares to transition into full-time professional football.

The acquisition of Jobling is seen as a significant win for the Tottenham academy, especially given his status as an international captain. He will initially join up with Jamie Carr’s U18 squad, a team that has faced a challenging campaign with 10 wins from 24 league games and is in need of defensive reinforcement. The path for Jobling is already clearly mapped out by the club; he is expected to sign his first professional contract when he celebrates his 17th birthday later this year, ensuring his long-term future remains at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Despite the change in club colours, Jobling’s international stock remains high. He is expected to be Tottenham’s sole representative for England’s Under-16s when the national side takes on Denmark, Spain and France this week. His departure from Cobham marks a rare instance of Chelsea allowing a youth captain to leave for a local rival, a move that could come back to haunt the Blues if the marauding full-back fulfils his significant potential under the guidance of the Spurs coaching staff.

Jobling is not the only high-profile arrival at the Hotspur Way training ground in recent weeks, as Spurs continue to bolster their youth ranks with elite talent from across the country. The club have been incredibly active in the market, having recently secured the services of Elisha Sowunmi after the player declined a new contract at West Ham. Furthermore, Spurs won a hard-fought battle against Arsenal to sign James Wilson on loan from Hearts, signalling a clear intent to dominate the local recruitment landscape.

This surge in academy activity comes at a time when the pathway to the first team is under intense scrutiny. Supporters have previously voiced concerns regarding the lack of opportunities for homegrown graduates, particularly under former regimes.

However, the arrival of interim manager Igor Tudor has brought a fresh wave of optimism for the club's younger players. Unlike his predecessor, Tudor is expected to provide a more transparent bridge between the youth setup and the senior squad. There is a growing belief that the current crop of academy stars will have genuine opportunities to impress the first-team staff, as evidenced by Wilson being pictured in senior training sessions ahead of the upcoming North London Derby.

For Jobling, the move represents a fresh start and a chance to prove his former club wrong. While Chelsea’s loss is undoubtedly Tottenham’s gain, the pressure will now be on the youngster to replicate his international form in a Spurs shirt.

The 16-year-old right-back has already integrated himself into the Spurs setup, having featured for the Under-16 side in a Premier League Cup fixture against Manchester City earlier this month. His performance during that trial period was enough to convince the Tottenham hierarchy to move quickly. Jobling had been a regular in Chelsea’s youth categories, featuring for both their U16 and U17 teams this season, but he now finds himself on the opposite side of the London divide as he prepares to transition into full-time professional football.

The acquisition of Jobling is seen as a significant win for the Tottenham academy, especially given his status as an international captain. He will initially join up with Jamie Carr’s U18 squad, a team that has faced a challenging campaign with 10 wins from 24 league games and is in need of defensive reinforcement. The path for Jobling is already clearly mapped out by the club; he is expected to sign his first professional contract when he celebrates his 17th birthday later this year, ensuring his long-term future remains at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Despite the change in club colours, Jobling’s international stock remains high. He is expected to be Tottenham’s sole representative for England’s Under-16s when the national side takes on Denmark, Spain and France this week. His departure from Cobham marks a rare instance of Chelsea allowing a youth captain to leave for a local rival, a move that could come back to haunt the Blues if the marauding full-back fulfils his significant potential under the guidance of the Spurs coaching staff.

Jobling is not the only high-profile arrival at the Hotspur Way training ground in recent weeks, as Spurs continue to bolster their youth ranks with elite talent from across the country. The club have been incredibly active in the market, having recently secured the services of Elisha Sowunmi after the player declined a new contract at West Ham. Furthermore, Spurs won a hard-fought battle against Arsenal to sign James Wilson on loan from Hearts, signalling a clear intent to dominate the local recruitment landscape.

This surge in academy activity comes at a time when the pathway to the first team is under intense scrutiny. Supporters have previously voiced concerns regarding the lack of opportunities for homegrown graduates, particularly under former regimes.

However, the arrival of interim manager Igor Tudor has brought a fresh wave of optimism for the club's younger players. Unlike his predecessor, Tudor is expected to provide a more transparent bridge between the youth setup and the senior squad. There is a growing belief that the current crop of academy stars will have genuine opportunities to impress the first-team staff, as evidenced by Wilson being pictured in senior training sessions ahead of the upcoming North London Derby.

For Jobling, the move represents a fresh start and a chance to prove his former club wrong. While Chelsea’s loss is undoubtedly Tottenham’s gain, the pressure will now be on the youngster to replicate his international form in a Spurs shirt.

Former Spurs manager Postecoglou has spoken openly about Romero's intimidating presence at the club's training ground. The World Cup winner has often been criticized for his disciplinary record and aggressive style of play during matches, having received eight yellow cards and two red cards in the Premier League so far this season. Most recently, he received a straight red card in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United. He was sent off just before the half-hour mark for a foul on Casemiro. As a result, he has now been handed a four-match ban.

However, Postecoglou revealed that this "tenseness" is typical of the defender's character, even behind closed doors at Hotspur Way. The Australian tactician admitted that Romero's no-nonsense approach often makes his teammates anxious during weekly training sessions. Rather than viewing this as a negative, Postecoglou embraces the friction, stating that the centre-back's elite mentality is precisely what the club needs to transition from title contenders to champions.

"I like him, man, and he does play aggressive, but he really scares people in practice," Postecoglou told The Overlap. "I like the way he talks. Now, does he cross the line? Yeah, he does. You know, he sometimes crosses the line in practice, and the coaches say, 'Oh, you know,' I say, 'Well, you guys tell him. I'm not going to tell him.'"

Postecoglou’s staunch defence of the Argentine international highlights the importance of "enforcers" in modern football. Drawing comparisons to legendary United captain Roy Keane, the coach argued that having a player who is genuinely feared by opponents and respected by teammates is a prerequisite for any squad with serious silverware aspirations.

The manager recalled how Romero’s refusal to be intimidated played a pivotal role in Tottenham's Europa League success. He noted that the defender’s psychological warfare begins long before the first whistle, citing a specific instance where Romero asserted dominance over Manchester United during a high-stakes final build-up.

"I mean, would you rather have Roy in your team or against you? We would never have won that final without Romero," Postecoglou explained. "Before kick-off, he took our team into the Man United half for the huddle because our supporters were down that end. He’s not scared of anything, mate. He’s a winner. I love winners."

"Respect him tremendously, they fear him, you know, you don’t want to [get on his bad side]," Postecoglou stated when discussing Romero's team-mates' attitude towards him. He emphasised that while Romero is a popular figure in the dressing room, his teammates are well aware of the consequences of dropping their standards around him.

"But you need that mentality in a group. Now, how do you control that? You need to harness that, you kind of hope that he [doesn’t completely cross the line]. You’ve got to remember his whole existence is not just Tottenham. He’s also an Argentinian national. He’s won a World Cup.

"He’s mixing with players like [Enzo] Fernandez and [Emi] Martinez, and he thinks: 'They’re signing players, why aren’t we?'" Postecoglou added.

Romero remains the heart of Tottenham's defence as they continue their fight to stay away from the bottom, currently sitting in 16th place in the table and just five points above the relegation zone. His leadership on the pitch is considered irreplaceable, especially as the club faces a demanding fixture schedule, including Champions League and domestic competitions.

The defender will also be looking forward to his duties with Argentina, where he remains a key starter for Lionel Scaloni. Maintaining his fitness while balancing his high-intensity playing style will be key to ensuring he remains available for Spurs and Argentina's upcoming 2026 World Cup campaign.

Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend as they prepare to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the North London Derby on Sunday but they will have to do so without their suspended defender.

Former Spurs manager Postecoglou has spoken openly about Romero's intimidating presence at the club's training ground. The World Cup winner has often been criticized for his disciplinary record and aggressive style of play during matches, having received eight yellow cards and two red cards in the Premier League so far this season. Most recently, he received a straight red card in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United. He was sent off just before the half-hour mark for a foul on Casemiro. As a result, he has now been handed a four-match ban.

However, Postecoglou revealed that this "tenseness" is typical of the defender's character, even behind closed doors at Hotspur Way. The Australian tactician admitted that Romero's no-nonsense approach often makes his teammates anxious during weekly training sessions. Rather than viewing this as a negative, Postecoglou embraces the friction, stating that the centre-back's elite mentality is precisely what the club needs to transition from title contenders to champions.

"I like him, man, and he does play aggressive, but he really scares people in practice," Postecoglou told The Overlap. "I like the way he talks. Now, does he cross the line? Yeah, he does. You know, he sometimes crosses the line in practice, and the coaches say, 'Oh, you know,' I say, 'Well, you guys tell him. I'm not going to tell him.'"

Postecoglou’s staunch defence of the Argentine international highlights the importance of "enforcers" in modern football. Drawing comparisons to legendary United captain Roy Keane, the coach argued that having a player who is genuinely feared by opponents and respected by teammates is a prerequisite for any squad with serious silverware aspirations.

The manager recalled how Romero’s refusal to be intimidated played a pivotal role in Tottenham's Europa League success. He noted that the defender’s psychological warfare begins long before the first whistle, citing a specific instance where Romero asserted dominance over Manchester United during a high-stakes final build-up.

"I mean, would you rather have Roy in your team or against you? We would never have won that final without Romero," Postecoglou explained. "Before kick-off, he took our team into the Man United half for the huddle because our supporters were down that end. He’s not scared of anything, mate. He’s a winner. I love winners."

"Respect him tremendously, they fear him, you know, you don’t want to [get on his bad side]," Postecoglou stated when discussing Romero's team-mates' attitude towards him. He emphasised that while Romero is a popular figure in the dressing room, his teammates are well aware of the consequences of dropping their standards around him.

"But you need that mentality in a group. Now, how do you control that? You need to harness that, you kind of hope that he [doesn’t completely cross the line]. You’ve got to remember his whole existence is not just Tottenham. He’s also an Argentinian national. He’s won a World Cup.

"He’s mixing with players like [Enzo] Fernandez and [Emi] Martinez, and he thinks: 'They’re signing players, why aren’t we?'" Postecoglou added.

Romero remains the heart of Tottenham's defence as they continue their fight to stay away from the bottom, currently sitting in 16th place in the table and just five points above the relegation zone. His leadership on the pitch is considered irreplaceable, especially as the club faces a demanding fixture schedule, including Champions League and domestic competitions.

The defender will also be looking forward to his duties with Argentina, where he remains a key starter for Lionel Scaloni. Maintaining his fitness while balancing his high-intensity playing style will be key to ensuring he remains available for Spurs and Argentina's upcoming 2026 World Cup campaign.

Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend as they prepare to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the North London Derby on Sunday but they will have to do so without their suspended defender.

Romero, who fills the armband for Spurs, has made more unfortunate headlines this season. He openly criticised the team’s recruitment policy following a 2-2 draw with Manchester City that saw him take to the field despite feeling unwell. He posted on social media after that contest: “I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially as we had only 11 players available – unbelievable but true and disgraceful.”

In Tottenham’s following fixture, Romero picked up a red card during a clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. That dismissal proved costly as Spurs slipped to a 2-0 defeat. Danish coach Thomas Frank lasted just one more game - a loss to Newcastle - before being relieved of his managerial duties.

Spurs, who are now working under interim boss Igor Tudor, have slumped to 16th in the Premier League table - just five points clear of the relegation zone. Questions are being asked of whether they will be dragged into a battle for survival.

Ex-Tottenham striker Zamora - speaking via Northerner - told GOAL when asked why Spurs are finding the going so tough: “For me, I still look at their defence, and that’s probably how I have looked at them for maybe four or five years. I don’t ever look at the centre-halves, or the back four, and go ‘you are an organised unit’.

“Romero is crazy. Every single week I think you can get a penalty out of him, or you have always got a chance of winding him up and getting him sent off. For me as a striker, that would be an easy target every single week - stick one on him, he’s going to retaliate and off he goes, down to 10 men.

“They just don’t seem solid enough and you need to build your foundations from that. There has been a lot about that Arsenal team conceding goals, and that Chelsea team - [John] Terry, [Ricardo] Carvalho, [William] Gallas, that was a good back four and you need to build from a defensive aspect and then go forward and have a couple of boys that can create chances and score goals.”

Zamora is not the only onlooker to have spotted serious faults in Romero’s game, with ex-Premier League manager Sam Allardyce of the opinion that the World Cup winner should have leadership duties taken off him.

Former England boss Allardyce has said: “Cristian Romero is one of those typical players who just does not learn. He has got so much talent, but so many flaws which he has not eradicated. He is still making the same mistakes as when he first signed for Tottenham

“Either he gets stripped of the captaincy, or someone says to him, ‘stay on your feet, I do not want you to go to ground when you tackle anymore’, and if he continues to do it, then take him out of the side.

“He is giving his managers a bad reputation for not being able to control him. If you are a centre-half, your first priority is being a defender, not how good you are with the ball – that is only an added bonus.”

Zamora has warned Spurs that they can “probably only go under the radar for two years” before they are no longer considered part of the Premier League’s fabled ‘Big Six’. They finished 17th last season, despite winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou.

The current campaign has been a struggle again and things are not about to get any easier as Tudor’s first game at the helm will be a north London derby date with arch-rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

Romero, who fills the armband for Spurs, has made more unfortunate headlines this season. He openly criticised the team’s recruitment policy following a 2-2 draw with Manchester City that saw him take to the field despite feeling unwell. He posted on social media after that contest: “I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially as we had only 11 players available – unbelievable but true and disgraceful.”

In Tottenham’s following fixture, Romero picked up a red card during a clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. That dismissal proved costly as Spurs slipped to a 2-0 defeat. Danish coach Thomas Frank lasted just one more game - a loss to Newcastle - before being relieved of his managerial duties.

Spurs, who are now working under interim boss Igor Tudor, have slumped to 16th in the Premier League table - just five points clear of the relegation zone. Questions are being asked of whether they will be dragged into a battle for survival.

Ex-Tottenham striker Zamora - speaking via BestBettingSites.co.uk, home of the best casino sites - told GOAL when asked why Spurs are finding the going so tough: “For me, I still look at their defence, and that’s probably how I have looked at them for maybe four or five years. I don’t ever look at the centre-halves, or the back four, and go ‘you are an organised unit’.

“Romero is crazy. Every single week I think you can get a penalty out of him, or you have always got a chance of winding him up and getting him sent off. For me as a striker, that would be an easy target every single week - stick one on him, he’s going to retaliate and off he goes, down to 10 men.

“They just don’t seem solid enough and you need to build your foundations from that. There has been a lot about that Arsenal team conceding goals, and that Chelsea team - [John] Terry, [Ricardo] Carvalho, [William] Gallas, that was a good back four and you need to build from a defensive aspect and then go forward and have a couple of boys that can create chances and score goals.”

Zamora is not the only onlooker to have spotted serious faults in Romero’s game, with ex-Premier League manager Sam Allardyce of the opinion that the World Cup winner should have leadership duties taken off him.

Former England boss Allardyce has said: “Cristian Romero is one of those typical players who just does not learn. He has got so much talent, but so many flaws which he has not eradicated. He is still making the same mistakes as when he first signed for Tottenham

“Either he gets stripped of the captaincy, or someone says to him, ‘stay on your feet, I do not want you to go to ground when you tackle anymore’, and if he continues to do it, then take him out of the side.

“He is giving his managers a bad reputation for not being able to control him. If you are a centre-half, your first priority is being a defender, not how good you are with the ball – that is only an added bonus.”

Zamora has warned Spurs that they can “probably only go under the radar for two years” before they are no longer considered part of the Premier League’s fabled ‘Big Six’. They finished 17th last season, despite winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou.

The current campaign has been a struggle again and things are not about to get any easier as Tudor’s first game at the helm will be a north London derby date with arch-rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

interview

"IÂ know what I can achieve and I know what

I'm going to achieve"

Player:

Xavi Simons

Interview by:

Sean Walsh

“Give me every power!” Xavi Simons greedily replies, prompted on which anime ability he’d want most as a footballer.

“When I was young, I was just playing a lot of games on the PC and I remember watching anime on the television. That’s still with me. It’s something I really enjoy.”

Anime has been almost a rare constant in 22-year-old Xavi’s ever-changing life, one that has already taken him from Amsterdam to Alicante, to Barcelona, to Paris, to Eindhoven, to Leipzig, and now to London. You can see it splashed across his social media and in his goal celebrations, perhaps most fondly when he scored in the famous orange of the Netherlands for the first time in June 2024 against Iceland.

“This one is a special one!” Xavi says, reminiscing on how he mimicked Naruto ‘gathering nature energy’. “It was my first goal in the national team and my favourite character is Naruto. I really wanted to do this one.”

It starts to become a bit clearer just why Xavi identifies with anime and Naruto in particular.

“With Naruto, the story he explains and how he sees life, all he does on a daily basis… I see myself a bit in him, that’s why it’s really special,” Xavi clarifies. “I think we share the same things, he’s passed a lot of things in his life, what he has achieved is really nice. I see myself as well.”

Nobody can say, ‘Xavi, you cannot do this’. I know what I can achieve and I know what I’m going to achieve. That’s important., and I have my family right behind me. They’re all I need.

In fairness, it’s been a whirlwind two decades on this earth for Xavi already. He rose to prominence as a 13-year-old when his Barcelona highlight reels went viral, effectively making him a child celebrity. Boot deals and adverts followed before he even played a professional minute of football.

But in the modern age where everyone can voice their opinions on so many different forums, Xavi has also felt the brunt of criticism that comes with such fame from an early age.

“Everyone knows how challenging social media can be,” he says. “You have the positive things, but you have the negative things as well. I think I’ve handled it in the best possible way.

“Nobody can say, ‘Xavi, you cannot do this’. I know what I can achieve and I know what I’m going to achieve. That’s important, and I have my family right behind me. They’re all I need.”

Fast Facts

Jersey

#7

Position

Attacking Midfield

Team

Tottenham Hotspur

Age

Birthplace

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Beyond anime, family has been the constant in Xavi’s life. When he joined Tottenham Hotspur from RB Leipzig last August, his unveiling pictures featured many of his relatives.

“They mean everything for me. It’s my life. Football is really important to me, but at the end, the most important thing in life is my family,” he declares, almost trailing off into thought.

“Being there for me on a special day when I signed for Tottenham was really, really special. I’m really happy I can achieve my dreams together.”

While Xavi has been getting to grips with the rough and tumble of the Premier League, he’s still managed to put family first. Last month, he and Tottenham collaborated on a video raising awareness for Alzheimer’s Society, featuring his Grandma Rinia who was diagnosed with the illness.

“I’m not going to lie to you, the start was a little bit hard for everyone when we heard the news,” Xavi admits with a heavy sigh. “But at the end of the day, we have to try and enjoy our time together. See the positives. I love being with my grandma and calling her every day. Seeing her smile, that’s something that makes me even more happy. I’m enjoying the little moments more.”

Everyone that comes to my home tries to play against me, and so far nobody has beat me. I’m still waiting.

At home, his’ family know the real ‘Xavi’. As it turns out, he doesn’t even go by ‘Xavi’.

“In my family, no one calls me Xavi. Everyone calls me ‘Boykie’. It kind of means ‘Little Guy’ in Dutch,” he says.

That’s the inspiration behind his personal Instagram account, which takes the handle ‘boykienoxavi’. Xavi is one of many footballers to regularly post from a profile of this type. There’s no sponsors and fewer match pictures, instead focusing on what happens at home as well as out and about with friends and family.

“I wanted to bring a different way to show who ‘Xavi’ is. More personal life, personal goals, personal dreams.”

Xavi recently opened up a challenge on ‘boykienoxavi’ to anyone who claimed they could beat him at his favourite pastime, ping pong.

“We cannot start this!” he laughs when that challenge is brought up. “Everyone that comes to my home tries to play against me, and so far nobody has beat me. I’m still waiting.

“When I was 11, I moved into La Masia (Barcelona’s academy) to live there. There was a ping pong table. Since then, I’ve been playing every day. I remember I was getting beaten by the older guys, but I said to myself that I needed to get better. I’m always playing in my house.”

Spotlight

Xavi joined Spurs in August 2025 and inherited the iconic No.7 from club legend, Son Heung-min. He became an instant fan-favourite in north London and you will find plenty of supporters wearing his shirt on matchdays.

“I spoke with Pedro Porro,” Xavi continues, hinting that there may be a Spurs forfeit in the works. “He said to me, ‘I would win easily’, so I said to him, ‘OK, let’s do a game’. We’ll see, when one loses, they’ll have to do something for the other one!”

Xavi is already a popular figure in the Tottenham dressing room, and he has been helped on by their returning striker, Dominic Solanke, a fellow noted lover of anime. Solanke and Xavi have not yet combined for an anime celebration the way the Dutchman has with other team-mates in the past.

“That’s true!” Xavi says, adding he is closer with Solanke than others due to their mutual obsession. “We didn’t play a lot together, now it’s maybe four games. I think he wanted to do his own celebrations, but now when he scores a lot of goals, we will together.

“With Dom, we share that like of anime. But it’s a really good group, especially with him as well, he’s really nice. Hopefully we can celebrate a lot of goals together.”

What would really make Xavi happy is for Spurs’ media team to make an anime of him the way they did for Europa League hero Solanke upon his return from injury.

“Yeah, we’ll have to talk with them!” he chuckles. “Let’s see when we can get this done. But I was really happy for him as well. It was a really nice video.”

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Xavi has embraced Spurs culture wholeheartedly since joining the club. Back in November, he was given a personal tour of the Tottenham neighbourhood by legends Ledley King and Michael Dawson, which included a trip to the iconic Chick King fast-food shop opposite the stadium.

The Tottenham dressing room has been an easy one for Xavi to settle into not only because of the characters within it, but the way the diverse squad bond through card and board games.“I spoke with Pedro Porro,” Xavi continues, hinting that there may be a Spurs forfeit in the works. “He said to me, ‘I would win easily’, so I said to him, ‘OK, let’s do a game’. We’ll see, when one loses, they’ll have to do something for the other one!”

Dating back to the days of Harry Kane and Mauricio Pochettino, there was a dominant ‘UNO’ culture at Hotspur Way, one that saw the introduction of a WWE belt for the squad’s reigning champion.

“It’s still big!” Xavi says of that culture. “It’s still a big thing in the dressing room, we play every day. It’s a nice way to stick together.

“I play UNO, a lot of table games, I’m playing dominoes a lot at home. I would say it’s a family thing because we always play together, we are really competitive against each other. It’s something that’s always been in the family and brings us together.”

Obviously, Xavi, as a professional athlete, has that extra edge when it comes to competitiveness.

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“I was born like this,” he insists. “I have an older brother and he was always the one winning against me when I was younger. That brought a bit of competitiveness to me.”

I think it’s a different way to show the world our personality in different ways, not only football. Maybe people think we are footballers 24 hours (a day), and that’s true, we live for our sport and want to achieve everything in our sport. But besides that, we love different things as well. We’re still young, we want to experience new things.

Even with this hardened mentality, Xavi does still see himself as more of a free spirit. You can see that not only with how he plays as a roaming No.10, but off the pitch with his taste in music and fashion.

“We have a lot of discussions in my family,” he says about his musical preferences. “With me, because I speak a lot of languages, I listen to everything. Rap, hip-hop, classical music, Brazilian music. It depends on my mood.

“One song I listen to before going to the pitch is ‘Je te laisserai des mots’. It’s a French classic song. It relaxes me.”

Xavi describes his own fashion sense as ‘unique’, but admits that there’s a reason why so many players of his generation could say the same.

“I think it’s a different way to show the world our personality in different ways, not only football,” he elaborates. “Maybe people think we are footballers 24 hours (a day), and that’s true, we live for our sport and want to achieve everything in our sport. But besides that, we love different things as well. We’re still young, we want to experience new things.”

So how has it been for him living in two of the world’s fashion capitals of London and Paris? “It’s been really nice. You see different cultures, different ways people dress. You get inspired a lot. That’s really nice about these big cities.”

It was in Paris, with French giants PSG, where Xavi completed a lifelong ambition of playing alongside his idol, Neymar. Even with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé there, the mercurial Brazilian was the one to watch.

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Neymar was one of Xavi’s favourite players when he was growing up, and the two would go on to share some history together. At the age of 12, Xavi appeared alongside the Brazilian in a commercial while still in Barcelona’s La Masia academy, before the duo finally rubbed shoulders on the pitch with PSG.

“Everything,” Xavi replies when asked what it is that fascinates him about Neymar. “He was the one that inspired me when I was young, he still inspires me. The way he expresses himself on and off the pitch, that’s something incredible.

“I know the real Neymar. People maybe only see the footballer, but the character and person he is off the pitch is an incredible guy, a family guy, a really warm guy.

“I remember being at home and saying to my mum, ‘I need to play with this guy one day’. He’s my idol, I wanted to achieve that. I worked hard and achieved that. Being with him every day, seeing how he is, how he does things, for me was really special. He’s the one who inspired me the most and the one that has helped me most in my football career.”

Though Xavi is at Spurs and Neymar is back home at Santos, they will still be united in one way this year, with both donning the new PUMA Future boot designed for the playmakers of today and tomorrow.

“I’m really happy to make this change,” Xavi says, picking up the boot in a light-blue colourway, but also glancing around the room at the other vibrant livery on offer to him. “This is a special moment for me, stepping into the Future with PUMA. We felt it was the right time to do it. I’m really happy to create my own history and legacy.

“The most important thing is I feel comfortable in the boot. It feels amazing. All the designs and colours I really like. It suits my style, it’s an attacking boot, it’s perfect to me.”

Be it in his boots or outside interests, his playing style or his playlists, Xavi is a mab on his own path. His fascinating journey certainly reads like a story. Maybe one day it will be turned into an anime.