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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.”

Spotlight

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.

‍

“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.

Spotlight

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.

Tottenham finished fifth in 2023-24, under the guidance of Australian tactician Ange Postecoglou. He vowed to deliver tangible success in his second campaign at the helm, and duly delivered when overseeing a continental triumph that snapped a 17-year wait for trophy-winning celebrations.

Postecoglou was still relieved of his duties, having seen Spurs slip to 17th in the English top-flight, with reins being passed to former Brentford boss Thomas Frank. The Dane lasted just eight months at the helm after becoming caught up in another relegation battle - with Tottenham looking anxiously over collective shoulders.

Igor Tudor has taken over on an interim basis, with current USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino seeing an emotional return to familiar surroundings speculated on, but whoever guides the club forward will have a big rebuilding project on their hands.

Quizzed on when Tottenham could tumble out of the fabled ‘Big Six’, with the likes of Newcastle and Aston Villa staking claims to join that pack, Zamora - speaking in association with Gambling.com, who rank and compare top-rated UK Casinos - told GOAL: “For a team like Spurs, I think you can probably only go under the radar for two years. That third year, which will be next season, you have to deliver some sort of performance. You have to be in that top six and consistently look like you are there.

“I’ve got a lot of friends who are Spurs fans and they are pulling their hair out, and have done for the last year. They cannot believe what is going on. Whoever comes through the door they give the manager two or three games and if they haven’t performed, good luck to them! It’s a huge club with massive potential.”

Postecoglou has claimed that Spurs may already be overstating their status in English football, with the enigmatic 60-year-old seeing enough across his spell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to suggest that a standing among the elite is undeserved.

He told The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast: “It's a real curious club in terms of understanding what are they trying to build? You know, what are they? Obviously, they've built an unbelievable stadium, unbelievable training facilities. But when you look at the expenditure, particularly, you know, their wages structure, they're not a big club.

“I saw that because when we were trying to sign players, we weren't in the market for those players. There's certain players that we... I mean, at the end of my first year, when we finished fifth, for me, okay, how do you go from fifth to really challenging? Well, we had to sign Premier League-ready players.

“You know, I was looking at Pedro Neto and [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Antoine] Semenyo at the time, Marc Guehi, because I said we need, if we're going to go from fifth to there, that's what the other big clubs would do in that moment. And those three teenagers are outstanding young players and I think they'll be great players for Tottenham, but they're not going to get you from fifth to fourth and third.

“But what was coming out from the club was that 'no, we're a club that can compete on all fronts'. So when you say, you've obviously got great experience as a manager, you've managed it all over the world at certain clubs. Is Tottenham different to those other clubs in terms of getting what you want onto the pitch or looking to take the club forward? Well, they're all unique, they're all different. But, you know, when you walk into Tottenham, what you see everywhere is 'to dare is to do'. It's everywhere. And yet their actions are almost the antithesis of that.

“Whether you like or dislike him, give credit to Daniel [Levy] because that path has got a new stadium, new facilities, but taking a safe path, I think what they didn't realise that to actually win, you've got to take some risks at some point. And that's the DNA of the club.

“I still felt like, you know, Tottenham as a club was saying 'we're one of the big boys' and the reality is I don't think they are in terms of my experience over the last two years of how they act.”

Spurs are currently facing down the near-unthinkable reality of potential relegation, and have appointed Tudor in a desperate attempt to pull clear of the drop. They sit 16th in the Premier League table with just 29 points from 26 games. Spurs are five points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United, but the Hammers are in much better form; they have won three of their last five fixtures, while their bitter rivals have not won any, leading to the sacking of Thomas Frank.

Now, the Telegraph reports that Spurs face a financial hit of "tens of millions of pounds" regardless of whether they are relegated, as they are almost certain to miss out on European football, meaning they will not trigger bonuses baked into their sponsorship deals. Many of those sponsors are said to have relegation clauses that allow for either renegotiation or termination.

An expert quoted in the report says: “The penalties for missing Europe alone run into tens of millions. That would be even bigger and potentially catastrophic if the club were relegated.”

Tudor's first game comes against Arsenal, and Spurs look to have a notably tricky run-in that includes trips to Anfield to face Liverpool, the Stadium of Light to face a Sunderland side enjoying an exceptional season, and Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea in the penultimate fixture of the campaign. Spurs also face six-pointers against the likes of Nottingham Forest, Wolves, and Leeds United; whether Tudor can get the club up to speed ahead of those games remains to be seen.

The Telegraph quotes a source who says: “Some companies are seeing relegation as a realistic possibility and are already reviewing their contracts. It already seems clear that some deliverables, such as European qualification, will not be feasible, but the biggest fear is relegation.”

Tudor, for his part, has insisted he has one job: To pull Spurs clear of trouble.

Tudor said upon his arrival as a firefighter: “It is an honour to join this club at an important moment.

“I understand the responsibility I have been handed and my focus is clear. To bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match.

“There is strong quality in this playing squad, and my job is to organise it, energise it and improve our results quickly.”

Sporting director Johan Lange added: “Igor brings clarity, intensity and experience of stepping into challenging moments and producing impact.

“Our objective is straightforward – to stabilise performances, maximise the quality within the squad and compete strongly in the Premier League and Champions League.”

Spurs' first game comes against the Gunners in what could be the most important north London derby in a generation, with Arsenal chasing title glory, and Spurs desperately bidding to stave off a drop into the Championship.

Spurs said in their statement announcing Tudor that they simply cannot countenance the idea of the drop.

They said: "We are pleased to confirm the appointment of Igor Tudor as Men’s Head Coach until the end of the season, subject to work permit.

"Igor joins us with a clear focus: to improve performances, deliver results and move us up the Premier League table. His mandate is straightforward – bring organisation, intensity and competitive edge to the squad at a decisive stage of the campaign."

Redknapp, who managed Spurs from 2008 to 2012 and led the club into the Champions League for the first time in the modern era, wrote in The Sun: "With belief, anything is possible. And injecting Tottenham's players with much-needed confidence will be the biggest task for interim boss Igor Tudor when he walks through the doors to meet his squad."

He added: "The message for Tudor now is similar to the one that I used when I arrived at White Hart Lane in 2008. We had fantastic players whose confidence was on the floor having not won any of their first eight league games.

"So the first thing I did was to lift the spirits of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale and remind them just how good they were, the quality they had and what they could do to the opposition. I had to make Modric truly believe there was no one better than him in the Premier League at that time. And everything flowed from belief.

"The players cannot be embarrassed to work, run after every ball and, when you lose it, keep chasing and pushing."

Redknapp also suggested that young stars Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, the latter hailed as a 'future Tottenham captain', could be the players to help propel the team away from the drop zone, while he also dismissed suggestions that Cristian Romero should be stripped of the armband.

"There are still a few players Tudor will need to deal with and none more so than the captain Cristian Romero," Redknapp continued.

"You cannot take the armband away from him, as much as that would seem an easy fix. Strip Romero of the captaincy and then you have lost him from day one.

"For the short term, you need him on your side and with you - but there needs to be a frank conversation about his lack of discipline."

He added: "A fine example for Romero and the rest of the squad to follow is 19-year-old midfielder Archie Gray. He was Tottenham's player of the year for me last season and delivers whenever or wherever you play him.

"Gray is a future Tottenham captain and everyone should be looking to him. He puts on a performance and shows commitment and desire whether at right-back, centre-back or in midfield.

"The kids at Tottenham, both Gray and Lucas Bergvall, have been showing up the leaders for far too long and it is time the more senior figures followed their lead."