Football London

Thomas Frank will have plenty on his plate as he gets to work at Tottenham Hotspur following his move from Brentford to replace Ange Postecoglou.

The 51-year-old was announced on Thursday as the new Spurs head coach and after some well-earned time off in both Denmark and Spain this summer, the Dane will officially get to work ahead of the 2025/26 season. He will no doubt already be plotting and planning for what the future holds to ensure he makes a quick start at the north London club after taking over from the trophy-winning Australian.

Frank has signed a three-year deal at Spurs, bringing to an end a near decade-long stay at Brentford, including six years as the head coach of the Bees as he helped them punch above their weight in the Premier League after earning promotion from the Championship.

Here are five things that we reckon will be on Frank's to-do list both now and when he eventually settles into his seat at his new office at Tottenham's Hotspur Way training complex.

Transfer talk

Frank will already be thinking about what his Tottenham squad will look like for the coming campaign and he will be having plenty of conversations with his fellow Dane and technical director Johan Lange. The pair knew each other from their time at Lyngby and maintained a close relationship. Lange had wanted to bring Frank to Aston Villa while he was there and played his part in bringing his compatriot to Spurs.

Now the duo will look to assemble a squad that can help the new head coach to succeed and be strong enough for the Champions League adventure ahead, while also strengthening Lange's position at the club with former managing director of football Fabio Paratici expected to return at some point in the months ahead.

Frank will be giving the green light to certain moves, as he did with Mathys Tel's loan spell being made permanent.

football.london understands Frank was excited by the prospect of working with the Frenchman, who he believes he can improve and the Dane studied the player himself and felt the move was a good one. There is a feeling that the 20-year-old could be more suited to Frank's system as it gives freedom to its wide players and allows them to come in off the line to link up play.

Frank will also be called on to talk to potential new signings, particularly any of his former players, with Spurs interested in Brentford attackers Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa among others at his old club, a call from Frank to those he knows inside out and who respect him greatly, could go a long way to helping them make a decision if one is to be had.

The Dane will also have to speak to those he has not managed before and he will need to make a similar impact to Postecoglou, who had a way with words in such situations with potential signings. Frank is also a famed communicator so should be able to sell Tottenham and their Champions League lure next season.

Coach decisions

Frank will be joined at Tottenham from Brentford by first team assistant coach Justin Cochrane, Head of Performance and first team assistant coach Chris Haslam as well as first team coach analyst Joe Newton, while first team assistant coach Andreas Georgson links up after a spell at Manchester United and having previously worked with Frank at the Bees.

There is still space for further coaching additions and Matt Wells and Rob Burch, who were on Postecoglou's staff, have not left the club as of yet.

Cochrane is understood to be friends with Wells following their time together as coaches within Spurs' academy and he will also know Burch well. Wells was Postecoglou's number two last season and Burch the Australian's goalkeeping coach. Both men are highly regarded within Spurs and they and Frank will have decide whether they remain on his staff.

There are also suggestions that multiple trophy-winning Spurs U18s coach Stuart Lewis could potentially be involved in the new-look staff in some capacity. The 37-year-old has been making a name for himself within and outside the club with his development of youngsters who have progressed into the first team set-up, while winning three trophies in as many seasons with an exciting brand of football.

Son and Romero chats

As well as incoming players and coaches, Frank must decide which players he wants to remain at Tottenham and he will need to speak to two of the club's big stars who are at a crossroads in their time at the club.

The Dane will need to have a conversation with captain Son Heung-min, who football.london reported last week is more open to a move this summer than previously after having finally lifted that long-sought after trophy with the club. The South Korean turns 33 next month and has just a year left on his contract. His recent comments to media back in his homeland suggested a lack of clarity on what comes next for him.

Cristian Romero is also at a key point in his tenure at Tottenham. The centre-back has made no secret of his desire to play in La Liga at some point and his decision to finally post after six days about Postecoglou on social media within an hour of Frank being appointed as his new manager did not look to be the biggest endorsement of the new man from the outside.

The World Cup winner though has two years left on his contract and the hefty price Spurs would ask for the vice-captain this summer is unlikely to be a simple one for the likes of Atletico Madrid to reach.

Frank will need to make decisions on both players and also see what their thoughts are as key figures in the dressing room.

Work out how to start with a bang

With sections of the fanbase unsure on his appointment or perhaps more specifically Postecoglou's departure after finally ending that 17-year-old trophy drought, Frank will know he has to start the season well.

That hasn't previously been the way for the Dane as he did not win any of his first eight games at Brondby and then lost eight of his first 10 matches at Brentford. Tottenham, who change their head coach on average every 18 months, will not show anywhere near that level of patience.

The fans won't either after being told Postecoglou was sacked because the club wanted to compete on all fronts. That in itself will be a new experience for Frank, who has only 10 games of Europa League qualifying experience to his name a decade ago, and has never gone far in the FA Cup.

Pre-season will at least present more time to work with all of his squad as there is no international tournament this year which should help the new man get his ideas across to the group. There is no time to waste for Frank and he will find out what the Premier League schedule looks like when the fixtures are released on Wednesday.

Decide who leaves

It's not just about Frank's captain and vice-captain as he has plenty of decisions to make on other players who either had big roles to play last season or were away from the club.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are both entering the final 12 months of their contracts at the north London club, offers could come in for others like Richarlison, and Frank must decide what happens with returning loan players like Manor Solomon, Bryan Gil and Alejo Veliz as well as youngsters with more of a future such as Luka Vuskovic, Yang Min-hyeok, Ashley Phillips, Jamie Donley, Josh Keeley, Alfie Devine, Will Lankshear, Alfie Dorrington and George Abbott.

Many of the young players will get a chance to impress early in pre-season before loan moves are either accepted or rejected. Frank has a lot to think about in the coming weeks and months ahead of that first competitive game and chance to win a trophy with the UEFA Super Cup against PSG in Udine in August.

Mathys Tel has become Tottenham's first signing of the Thomas Frank era and while he could be fully unleashed, another transfer completed recently is perfect for the Dane.

Spurs officially confirmed Frank as their new head coach from Brentford on Thursday and just over 72 hours later, another statement was released announcing the permanent arrival of Tel. The buy-option in his six-month loan from Bayern Munich was £45.7million (€55m), but Spurs have been able to purchase him for £29.7million (€35m).

Even with Tel joining, Spurs want to sign another winger and further additions are also expected in other areas of the pitch with a defensive midfielder one priority. If Atletico Madrid target Cristian Romero departs, a replacement at centre-back should come in.

Talks with Frank regarding his future and that of club captain's Son Heung-min is expected imminently as he is also one player that could depart. The South Korea international has just one year remaining on his contract.

On the training ground meanwhile, his immediate focus will be on getting the best out of the current group. A number of players will surely benefit from Frank's hands-on coaching approach along with his attacking tactics that saw Brentford score 66 Premier League goals last season - more than Chelsea and Aston Villa.

Despite their poor season, Spurs managed just two fewer with Brennan Johnson as their top scorer on 11. A further seven arrived in all competitions for the Welshman with one of those securing the Europa League.

Minus his goals, Johnson endured a difficult campaign but that a repeat of that may not happen under Frank. Just before Spurs swooped in to sign him from Nottingham Forest in a £47.5million deal, Brentford saw several bids rejected with one of those a club-record £40million offer.

To put in such an attempt clearly showed that Frank wanted him at the Gtech Community Stadium. While very different players, seeing how Bryan Mbeumo has thrived at right wing for Brentford, Johnson has the potential to reach similar heights under Frank.

The majority of his goals have come from being in the right place at the right time and if Frank can make that a more dangerous weapon while also developing his general play out wide, Tottenham could have one hell of a player on their hands.

Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach Thomas Frank is yet to speak following his appointment this week but that's not particularly unusual at the north London club.

The 51-year-old Dane was named as Ange Postecoglou's successor on Thursday evening with a three-year contract, six days after the Europa League-winning Australian got the sack. As of Sunday afternoon, there had been no quotes or interview released by the north London club from the new Spurs boss although Frank did pen a heartfelt open letter to the Brentford supporters and staff for their website on leaving their club after almost a decade at the Bees.

As with most early summer appointments, it may be that talks with Frank took place away from Hotspur Way and the Dane's hard-earned time off between seasons will this week be interrupted for him to undertake his media duties at his new club.

Similar occurred with Postecoglou two years ago when his own early June announcement contained quotes from chairman Daniel Levy but the Australian's first words on accepting the job did not arrive until three days later when he arrived at the club's training complex and sat down for his media interview.

Two years before that and Nuno Espirito Santo's appointment as manager was delivered immediately with words from the Portuguese, but that was a different scenario as Tottenham's protracted search for a replacement for Jose Mourinho meant that the now Nottingham Forest boss was appointed only days before pre-season work began. Just three months into that season and Antonio Conte was appointed as his successor with immediate quotes as he had to start work at the training ground almost instantly.

If you're going to go yet further back then Mauricio Pochettino was named as the new Tottenham boss in May 2019, just a week or so after the Premier League season came to a close, meaning the Argentine was there to immediately undergo his first interview before heading off on his summer break.

In the words that are available from Frank since his Tottenham appointment, his letter to his old club read: "To everyone associated with Brentford Football Club. The time has come for me to move on. But, even as I leave, I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford, not just at the football club but with the community and, of course, the incredible and loyal supporters.

"I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one. For my family and I, it has been a privilege to be allowed to be part of such a special community - it’s an experience and adventure that we will cherish for life. So, thank you.

"Whatever we have achieved, we have achieved together, and our success is built on unity, spirit, courage and ambition at every level of the club and amongst the fans. Everybody has contributed, and every contribution has been invaluable. I am not just leaving a football club, I am saying goodbye to friends whose support through good and bad times I will carry with me always.

"I would like to say a special word of thanks to Matthew Benham. His trust and friendship have meant so much and the fact he gave me a chance in English football means I will always owe him a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Matt. So, while this is a goodbye, I hope the relationships I have built with everybody will be lasting ones and, of course, we will meet again in the wonderful world of football.

Thank you, Thomas."

Frank's right-hand man Justin Cochrane has spoken though about his return to Spurs, where he began his coaching career in the club's academy.

"Well what can I say, back to where I started in 2009. I’m delighted to be joining @SpursOfficial. I can’t wait to get started. The club gave me my 1st job and now after 16 years of working very hard, getting qualified and making an impact wherever I’ve been I’m back. LET'S GO!" he posted on social media.

"Thank you @BrentfordFC. It’s been a privilege to be part of this special club. The players, staff and the supporters have been fantastic since the day I joined. I’ve enjoyed working in such a progressive and forward-thinking environment. All the best. On to the next challenge.."

Thomas Frank’s background in youth development could prove vital in helping new Tottenham boss get the best out of Mikey Moore - especially after the teenager’s crucial goal for England’s U19s on Sunday.

The 17-year-old winger scored a late equalising penalty in a 2-2 draw against Norway at the U19 Euros, continuing to show signs of the exciting talent Spurs fans glimpsed last season.

Moore made 19 appearances under Ange Postecoglou in 2024/25, registering one goal and two assists. While the numbers were modest, his technical ability and attacking intelligence were clear - and traits that Frank, a manager who champions youth, may help refine further.

The Danish coach spent the first five years of his career working with Denmark’s national youth teams, progressing from the U16s to U19s. His commitment to nurturing young players continued at Brentford, where he was known for promoting from the academy and giving talent the time and structure to flourish.

Though Moore earned first-team minutes last season, many of them came during an injury crisis. Under Frank, his development could follow a steadier, more deliberate path.

Stylistically, the fit could be ideal. Frank’s Brentford sides relied heavily on wide players - including reported Spurs target Bryan Mbeumo - and often gave them freedom to roam and create. That tactical approach could suit Moore, who excels with his movement, technique and vision.

There’s also scope for a positional shift. While Moore has mainly featured on the right, and occasionally the left, for Tottenham, his attributes could lend themselves to a central attacking midfield role.

As a No.10, he could become a creative force in Frank’s setup - and the new manager has a track record of trusting young players in key positions.

However, a big decision looms. According to Football Insider , Championship sides Birmingham City and West Brom are keen on taking Moore on loan next season.

A move would almost guarantee regular minutes - but remaining at Spurs could offer exposure to Champions League football and high-level training under a manager known for youth development.

“With Ange, I’m thankful to him. He gave me an opportunity to go and show people what I could do," Moore told PA Sport regarding Frank's appointment. "Now I’m just excited to get back and hopefully go and impress the new manager. Try and show what I can do, really.

"I started away at Brentford, where obviously [Frank] was in charge, and I’ve played against his team before. I’ve heard that he’s a good man and he’s a good manager. One of the boys here [with the Under-19s] works under him and says good things about him, so I’m just excited to get going under him, really."

With Frank also reportedly keen to keep tabs on fellow teenage signing Luka Vuskovic before deciding on a potential loan, Moore may receive similar attention.

Bryan Mbeumo revealed last year his wish to play in the '"biggest competitions" for "the best clubs" as Manchester United and Tottenham go head-to-head for his signature.

The 25-year-old, who joined Brentford from Troyes six years ago for a then-club record £5.8m, seemed destined for Old Trafford earlier this month. Reports suggested he had prioritised a move to United, with personal terms not expected to be an issue.

However, the appointment of Thomas Frank as Tottenham's new boss has thrown a spanner in the works. Frank, who managed Mbeumo at Brentford, is keen to reunite with his former player, who helped tally 20 Premier League goals this season.

And it appears the Dane's move to north London has given Tottenham the upper hand in the battle for Mbeumo's signature, reports the Mirror.

Spurs have tabled a £70m bid, £15m more than United's rejected offer, and reports suggest Mbeumo is now 'more open' to staying in London. Comments made by the player last May also suggest Frank's new side may hold the edge in the transfer tussle.

Interest in Brentford's star winger has been simmering since the summer of 2024, with Liverpool and Newcastle previously showing keen interest after his nine-goal haul last term.

Mbeumo opened up about the transfer speculation to L'Equipe last year, saying: "I have spent five years at Brentford, at a club that has allowed me to grow and pass a milestone but yes, I would like to play in the biggest competitions, at the best clubs. It is tantalising to see some big clubs interested in me."

Despite the buzz, Mbeumo remained with the Bees last summer, but his ambition to play at the highest level lends credence to Tottenham's pursuit.

With United set to miss out on European football next season after finishing 15th, Spurs' recent Europa League triumph over the Red Devils, which secured them a spot in the Champions League, could be a significant draw for Mbeumo.

He emphasised his desire to compete in top tournaments like the Champions League, but did stress the importance of doing so with the 'best clubs.'

Although United edged out Spurs in the Premier League standings this term and boasts a more decorated history with 20 top-flight league titles, Tottenham's recent success and Champions League qualification could play a deciding role in where Mbeumo next ends up.

Mbeumo has kept his cards close to his chest regarding his preferred destination, but a recent Instagram post following the announcement of head coach Frank's departure may provide some insight.

The 25-year-old shared photos of himself and Frank, accompanied by two prayer emojis, possibly hinting at a desire to reunite or simply wishing his former manager well.

Regardless, the allure of Champions League football and the opportunity to play under the mentor who guided him to stardom could tip the scales in Tottenham's favour in this transfer tug-of-war, though United remain in contention.

New Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank will be keeping a close eye on teenage centre-back Luka Vuskovic as he prepares to link up with the Europa League-winning squad.

Spurs agreed a deal for Vuskovic back in September 2023, when he was just 16. The agreement allowed him to remain at Hajduk Split until 2025, with his contract at Tottenham running until 2030.

Despite making his professional debut only two years ago, Vuskovic has already made headlines in Croatia.

He became the youngest player to feature in the country’s top division and Hajduk Split’s youngest-ever goalscorer following a standout debut season.

Now officially a Spurs player, several clubs have expressed interest in taking the Croatian on loan, with first-team minutes at Tottenham not guaranteed.

However, according to The Mirror, Frank is keen to evaluate the 18-year-old closely before making any decisions about his immediate future.

Spurs are said to be in no rush, aware of the significant potential Vuskovic possesses, with the Mirror reporting that 'a series of top-flight clubs from Germany, France and Belgium including Hamburg and Club Brugge' are keen on signing the youngster.

The defender had also attracted interest from Manchester City and PSG before committing to north London, and the club are keen to carefully manage his development.

“First of all, I’m looking forward to feeling that level and seeing where I am in relation to the players who just won the Europa League so that I know what I need to work on the most,” Vuskovic said.

“After that, I’ll see in agreement with the club which is the smartest next step. "The club has proven to be careful and wise in making decisions so far.

"Belgium has proven to be an ideal league at this stage of my career, and I think it is otherwise a great development league because it gives a lot of opportunities to young players.”

Frank’s background could prove crucial. The Dane spent five years coaching his country’s youth teams - from U16 to U19 level - and is widely regarded as a manager with a strong track record in player development.

Vuskovic spent last season on loan with Belgian side Westerlo, where he impressed with seven goals and two assists in 36 appearances - remarkable numbers for a centre-back.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the permanent signing of winger Mathys Tel, with the player becoming the first new signing under new head coach Thomas Frank.

Tel spent the second half of last season on loan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Bayern Munich. Spurs have activated a clause for the deal to now become permanent for a fee of £30 million.

The France under-21 international has signed a six-year contract with Spurs. The deal will become active at the expiry of his current loan deal that runs until the end of the month.

In a statement, Spurs wrote: "We are delighted to announce the permanent signing of Mathys Tel from FC Bayern.

"Mathys joined the Club from the Bundesliga side in February on loan until the end of the season with an option to make the move permanent. We can confirm we have agreed a deal with Bayern that will see the France Under-21 international sign a contract that will run until 2031 when his current loan deal ends on 30 June."

During his loan spell, the 20-year-old made 20 appearances, scoring three goals and claiming one assist. He established himself as a regular starter under former manager Ange Postecoglou.

He's now got to impress new boss Frank. The manager was confirmed as Postecoglou's replacement at the club earlier this week after helping to establish Brentford in the Premier League.

The new Spurs boss has already been linked with signings. Reports claim that the club are attempting to hijack Manchester United's move for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo.

Tottenham fans will have to bide their time when it comes to seeing Thomas Frank's side in action for the very first time. Once again, Spurs will have a new look about them with the Dane replacing Ange Postecoglou at the helm.

It will also be the same for the Tottenham team as transfer incomings and outgoings will be sanctioned this summer to ensure the north London club get back to challenging for the top four. Tottenham's form in 2024/25 highlighted that changes must take place and Johan Lange certainly has plenty to do.

Right now, there are question marks over a number of players already at the club, especially when it comes to the final third. football.london reported earlier in the week that Son Heung-min is more open to leaving than he has ever been before.

Richarlison's future is certainly not guaranteed after a difficult three seasons in the capital, but it does appear that Mathys Tel is set to stay on a permanent basis. Finally, there is Manor Solomon's future to discuss after his sublime form in Leeds United's promotion-winning campaign.

The Israel ace contributed ten goals and 13 assists in his 41 appearances for the West Yorkshire club, with his final strike of the season, which came in the very last minute of their 2-1 win at Plymouth Argyle, seeing them secure the Championship title. Leeds would undoubtedly like to make his loan move permanent as they prepare for life back in the Premier League.

Solomon himself may feel exactly the same way as he will almost certainly be a guaranteed starter for Daniel Farke's side in the Premier League. Amid those big question marks surrounding his future anyway, the appointment of Frank as Spurs boss could change things for the player.

The Dane will no doubt want to take a good look at the players available to him at Tottenham over the course of the summer before making a final decision on them. That in turn could mean that Solomon does in fact still have a future in N17.

Signed in the summer of 2023, the winger was restricted to only six appearances in his debut campaign with injury unfortunately leaving him in the treatment room. Unable to catch the eye for Tottenham last pre-season as he looked to work his way back to full fitness and duly impress Postecoglou, he ended up moving to Leeds United on loan for the campaign and it proved to be the best possible move for all parties.

Frank is someone who will most definitely be aware of Solomon after he scored against his Brentford side during his time with Fulham in the 2022/23 campaign. Seeing the first part of his campaign disrupted by injury, the attacker enjoyed a purple patch in front of goal during February and early March as he scored in five successive games.

His final goal of that sequence was a close-range header in the 39th minute at Brentford to make it 1-1, with the Bees going on to win the game 3-2. At a time when Solomon was in confident mood and the top of his game, Frank will certainly have noted him.

The confidence is most definitely flowing through the player's veins right now after a sensational season in the Championship with Leeds United. It is something Frank and Spurs may want to capitalise on as they take a look at him this summer before reviewing their options out wide.

If he is to move on, it is perhaps the perfect time to cash in on him as his stock may never be higher considering what he achieved during his loan spell at Elland Road. It is a huge summer for Solomon and what comes next for the Tottenham man will become clear in the weeks ahead.

Mathys Tel looks set to become Thomas Frank's first signing as Tottenham Hotspur head coach. The 20-year-old forward joined the Lilywhites on loan from Bayern Munich during the January transfer window, which included a £45.8m option to sign permanently this summer.

Tel, who was prised from the Bundesliga giants by Ange Postecoglou, featured 20 times for Tottenham across all competitions - scoring three goals and providing one assist. Despite some poor results in the Premier League, the France Under-21 international helped Spurs win the Europa League.

He didn't feature in the 1-0 win vs Manchester United in the final, but his versatility during the knockout stages of the competition proved crucial. football.london understands that Tel was always set to stay at Tottenham - even after a few tweaks to the initial payment structure for him.

Meanwhile, according to German newspaper Sport Bild, the Frenchman is close to joining Spurs permanently. The report claims that, instead of triggering the option-to-buy clause in Tel's loan deal, Tottenham will now pay Bayern around €35m (£29.8m).

It's said that the German outfit plan to reinvest the funds on their frontline following the departures of Leroy Sane and Thomas Muller. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Christoph Freund hinted that Tel was set to leave.

The Bayern sporting director said: "We now have two fewer players in attack. That's a fact.

"Therefore, it is clearly our goal to strengthen ourselves there and add quality."

Meanwhile, in north London, Frank will hope that Tel is the first of many exciting signings he makes as Tottenham's boss. Bryan Mbeumo has been heavily linked with a move to Spurs following his ex-manager's appointment.

According to the BBC, Spurs are interested in signing the Brentford star, who was subject to a bid from Manchester United earlier this month. The report claims that the Red Devils tabled an offer of £45m, plus £10m in add-ons.

It's said that no agreement was reached - with that proposal falling short of the Bees' valuation. The BBC add that Tottenham are yet to submit a bid, and other Champions League clubs are keen.

Mbeumo reportedly has no release clause in his contract at the G-Tech Community Stadium, which has a year left to run - plus a 12-month extension option. During an interview with Viaplay back in May, Frank was quizzed on the Brentford forward's future.

"It's clear that if he is to be sold, it must be for a nice, nice amount," said the 51-year-old, as quoted by the Evening Standard. "It is a lot. Mucho. Really a lot.

"Then it's clear that it's impossible to replace him one-for-one. It cannot be done. There is a reason why he costs X number of million pounds, and we do not have X number of million pounds to buy for.

"I would say that I would be surprised if a lot of big clubs don't look at him. I would be surprised with what he has to offer. How many wingers score 20 goals for a mid-table club?

"And then with seven assists plus his work-ethic. And his character. All these things mean that he has a lot, so he is a good player."

Tottenham's transfer approach is going to be fascinating this summer as they look to get back to challenging towards the top of the Premier League. After mainly targeting young players for the future last summer, Ange Postecoglou stated prior to his dismissal that the club needed experienced players this time around.

Now set to embark on a Champions League campaign on top of their Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup commitments, the addition of players who have played at that level before and are comfortable there could hold the key to Tottenham achieving their goals come May. In what has been a very quiet transfer window for Johan Lange and the club with not many players linked due to the managerial uncertainty, transfer talk could be set to ramp up now Thomas Frank is in place.

One player who has been mentioned in regards to a Tottenham transfer in recent days is Roma midfielder Niccolo Pisilli. According to reports, Spurs have agreed a deal in principle to sign the 20-year-old.

So what exactly would they be getting in Pisilli? football.london takes a look at what his previous Roma managers have said about him.

Jose Mourinho on Pisilli's first Roma goal

“I gave lots of debuts in many other clubs, but at Roma many of them are kids who grew up here, who went to the stadium with their fathers, grandfathers, and when they get a chance to play for the senior squad, it is so emotional," he said.

“It is his first goal in the Stadio Olimpico, in the Europa League, in the net below where he used to sit in the stands. Such joy. I had to run off, or I would burst into tears too!"

Ivan Juric on Pisilli

“You fall in love easily. He’s young, he must grow, and he comes from an intellectual family. He’s also a little intellectual,” Juric told Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (via Football Italia).

“He is calm and serene. He thinks and has a talent that I had never seen in young players like him. He has a clear perception of things from the first touch. If he continues like this, working hard without being overconfident, he’ll have a great career.”

Juric on Pisilli

“We have a lot of youngsters who are leaving me very pleased and they can still improve a lot," said Juric. “Pisilli is an incredible talent, he can do better because he runs too much at times and loses position.

“But I love to coach him, he’s an incredible talent, humble, he controls the ball by pointing forward. He can play in the middle or a bit more advanced.”

Daniele De Rossi on Pisilli

“Who impressed me? In-person, Pisilli," revealed De Rossi. "I didn’t know him well; he’s such a strong player. He’s still a youngster, but he made an impression on me. I’m guilty of not knowing him well.”

Luciano Spalletti on Pisilli

“Looking at Pisilli, he seems like a really good midfielder. He knows how to play in both phases, and he is someone who always shows up," said Spalletti after calling up the Roma ace to the Italian national side.

“De Rossi told me that he always scores in small-sided games, he’s always present. He has high frequency and has lots of energy. He is someone who can do a bit of everything. He can be part of our new history.

“I think he deserved to come here with us, and now everyone is realising it too. We have to test things out here: For now I only bring 23 players, I don’t want to have two more players who get five or six minutes, and they end up feeling left out.

“I brought [Daniel] Maldini and Pisilli in the 23 because I want to see them on the pitch, making a difference for the national team.”