Football London

The Tottenham Hotspur captain and two of his team-mates are set to return to the north London club after their World Cup exploits

Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro and Djed Spence are set to return to Tottenham this week to meet back up with Roberto De Zerbi and their team-mates.

Porro returns as a World Cup winner, having starred at the competition with Spain and beaten Romero's Argentina in the final. The right-back was named in the team of the tournament and ensured it was the third consecutive World Cup that a Tottenham player emerged as a winner after Hugo Lloris and Romero triumphed in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

As with Porro and Romero, Spence also had a tournament to remember as he picked up plaudits aplenty for his performances as England finished in third place in the competition played across the USA, Canada and Mexico.

football.london understands that all three players are due to report back to pre-season training at Hotspur Way this week, having taken their minimum three-week period offered since the third-place match on July 18 and the final the following day.

Romero's Argentina team-mate Marcos Senesi chose to return early to Hotspur Way to get settled into his new surroundings while the club were on their pre-season tour Down Under. The former Bournemouth centre-back played 90 minutes in his country's group stage win against Jordan and then 18 minutes in the final so will be reasonably fresh.

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While Porro will return to the Enfield training complex, freshly engaged and with his football future also set after signing a bumper new long-term deal with Spurs, what comes next for Romero and Spence remains unclear.

The Spurs captain has been linked with moves to both Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan and despite signing a new contract last summer, the £52million arrival of Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton does give the club the depth to allow Romero to depart in the weeks ahead, but only for the right price.

De Zerbi told football.london on the club's pre-season tour that he will respect Romero and Guglielmo Vicario's wishes to leave north London this summer.

"At the beginning of my time, in April, I had, I don't know, one million individual meetings!" he said. "And [the players] told me what was their idea. I said: 'Yes, help me to stay up, and then I help you to leave'. If you don't help me to stay up, you stay underwater with me!

"But Romero with me was unbelievable. Top. In his behaviour, his respect, he suffered when he did not play the last game. It is not true that he wanted to leave for Argentina to prepare for their World Cup. It's not true. After the semi-final [against England] we text a message, but I never called him to convince him to stay. I respected what he told me. Like for Vicario, like for every player."

De Zerbi added: "Romero as a player is one of the best centre-backs in the world, but at the end I said I want to respect the will of the players."

The Italian later admitted that he had messaged Romero further during the tour but only to sort out his return to pre-season training.

"I texted with Cuti yesterday, this morning and yesterday, but to make a plan for when he has come to London but not for the transfer market," said the Spurs boss when asked about the centre-back's future. "And also it's not my job. You have to ask Johan Lange and Vinai [Venkatesham]. I know there are many solutions in the transfer market, but I don't follow the negotiation."

Spence has also been linked with the exit door after Porro's new contract with the England full-back keen to ensure he gets the required game time this season, with Everton among those linked to the 26-year-old.

De Zerbi made it clear to football.london that the ball is in Spence's court as he would love to keep him and wantaway midfielder Lucas Bergvall.

"What I say to you, is the same I said to Djed and to Lucas - 'I would like you to stay'," he explained. "Not 'I want you to stay'. 'I would like you stay if you want to stay'," he explained.

"'If you don't want to stay, if you want to leave, you have to leave'. If you want to leave, speak with Vinai [Venkatesham] and Johan, because I don't manage the price, the sale. I can speak with Vinai and Johan about the best strategy, but I don't decide £30m, £40m, that's not my position and I don't want to change my position. It's tough enough to be a coach and I want to stay as a coach.

"But I respected the player's ideas and opinions or projects. But if they stay, they have to stay following my rules, decisions on the pitch. After two games, three games, if one player is not playing and he starts to be sad or not correct with the other players, the coaches, staff, the club, we would make a big, big mistake because we didn't learn from the past season."

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Over the weekend, it was reported that Tottenham are among a number of Premier League clubs who could take Endrick on loan from Real Madrid.

Given his form at Lyon last season, there's an argument for North London being a suitable destination for the Brazilian.

Unlike some rivals, Spurs aren't overwhelmed with attacking options.

This could afford the youngster more minutes than he might be able to pick up elsewhere.

Endrick averaged a goal or assist for every 102 minutes on the pitch in Ligue 1 last term and would surely be a welcome addition.

Jose Mourinho claims he agreed to join Manchester United in 2013, long before his eventual Old Trafford spell and the Spurs stint which followed.

He made the admission in new documentary 'Mourinho', saying he instead rejoined Chelsea because "After Real Madrid, I needed to feel that I’m loved.”

Legendary United boss Sir Alex Ferguson recalled the episode with Mourinho, saying: “Early evening he phoned me and he was crying,”

“And he says, ‘Alex, I can’t take it – I’ve given my word to Chelsea, and I’m not going to break my word’.

“The reason he gave to me I could understand, but I was disappointed.”

The idea of a player moving between Tottenham and Arsenal is hard for some to get their head round.

This is especially true given the ill-feeling which has followed Sol Campbell for more than 20 years after his move.

And yet, according to reports in Europe and South America, Arsenal are very serious when it comes to their efforts to bring Cristian Romero across the North London divide.

Middlesbrough are keen to renegotiate terms over their deal for Ashley Phillips, according to The Mail.

The concern comes after issues reportedly emerged during the player's medical as he was poised to move north in a deal worth up to £20m.

Phillips spent the last two seasons on loan at Stoke and Boro may now look to make their own move an initial loan.

Cody Gakpo of Liverpool has been linked with Tottenham but it appears that deal could depend on what happens with the Anfield club's recruitment.

It has been reported that Liverpool would want to add two new attacking options before they are prepared to part ways with the Dutch international.

However, as links with PSG pair Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye persist, we could soon arrive at a situation where the Reds are prepared to sell.

Tottenham's players have been down under in pre-season and it has taken its toll.

Andy Robertson opened up on the challenges brought by jet lag, as well as the tough training sessions under Roberto De Zerbi, after the draw with Getafe.

“When it comes to the game [against Getafe], you're probably a little bit leggy and a little bit mentally tired as well, but we had to get through it and I think we did," the Scot said.

"I don't think it was the prettiest and probably not the greatest of games, but it will stand us in good stead."

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Tottenham continued their pre-season campaign against Getafe on Saturday with Jan Paul van Hecke far from pleased by their actions

Tottenham star Jan Paul van Hecke has suggested that pre-season opponents Getafe could have had up to three players sent off. The two sides met in a 70-minute behind-closed-doors friendly at Hotspur Way on Saturday, with the clash finish all square at 1-1.

The biggest talking point coming out of the clash was the conduct of the La Liga side, with a clip of a brawl starting after Sandro Tonali took exception at being caught late circulating on social media. Van Hecke has since spoken about the friendly and issued a clear verdict on what he thought could have happened if it were a competitive game.

He said: "Sometimes it's good to have a physical game. I thought today was a bit too much. From their side, sometimes it's not necessary, especially in a friendly.

"I think in a normal game maybe they have two or three red cards. But that's also maybe the way they play. We knew beforehand they can do it.

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"It's a friendly, so you think maybe they would do it a bit less. But on the other hand, we also need to be at our best because if you don't put your foot in, they're going to win it.

"If that's what the game asks, then you need to put your foot in and battle with them, otherwise they win the battles. That's what you don't want. It's one of the first things you need to win in football. You saw at times it got a bit heated, but that's because of the reactions. If you get kicked, you're going to react."

Getafe went in front through Alberto Risco but Conor Gallagher reacted quickest to a loose ball and tucked home an equaliser. The latter and Van Hecke were joined by the likes of Lucas Bergvall and Mikey Moore in the starting line-up.

Tottenham also played against their Under-21s later that afternoon with Marcos Senesi, Rodrigo Bentancur and Mateus Fernandes featuring. The latter had been dealing with calf fatigue in pre-season but looks to have recovered.

Dominic Solanke and James Maddison did not feature in either clash as the duo are reportedly dealing with ankle and hip problems, respectively.

Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven were also not in action as both continued to be managed. The Lilywhites conclude their pre-season campaign against Hoffenheim next Saturday.

Their Premier League season then kicks off the following weekend with a trip to Brentford. Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Aston Villa also face Spurs before the September international break.

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The Tottenham midfielder made a second touching gesture to the family of a young supporter who tragically died last month

Xavi Simons invited the family of young Tottenham supporter George Dennis who died in July to watch their behind-closed-doors friendly against Getafe. The Spurs star had previously reached out to the 11-year-old's loved ones one week on from his tragic death.

George was hit by a lorry on July 10 near a pedestrian crossing in Chipping Ongar, Essex. He was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.

His cousin, who witnessed the tragic accident, was among the family members invited to the club's training ground on Saturday by Simons to watch the pre-season clash against Getafe with him.

The 23-year-old gave them all a tour of Hotspur Way with the kids gifted Tottenham jerseys and a pair of boots, while the Dutchmen got George's parents flowers.

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Over £113,000 has been raised by members of the public to support George's family. His mother Emma Dennis said that her son would be "loved forever, missed every single day and remembered always".

"George was a bright light in our lives. He had the kindest heart, a cheeky smile and a personality that was truly one of a kind," she said, as reported by the BBC. "He was full of life, always making people laugh and brought so much happiness to everyone who knew him."

She added: "The pain of losing him is impossible to put into words, and we simply do not know how we will ever begin to heal as a family. Our lives have changed forever and there will always be a space that can never be filled."

The initial message from Simons came in response to a post from the X account Grassroots outlining what had happened to him with a statement from his local football team Ongar Juniors included.

The Dutchman, who is currently recovering from an ACL rupture, wrote: "George's family is welcome to join my family and I at any upcoming Spurs game. Sending all of my love."

"It is with immense sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that our former and recently returning player George tragically lost his life in a road traffic accident," a statement from Ongar Juniors said.

"George was a talented footballer, a natural leader and a much-loved member of the Ongar Juniors family. Known affectionately as 'Twinkle Toes', he will be remembered for his wonderful ability, his huge smile and the joy he brought to his teammates and coaches.

"Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with George's family, friends and everyone affected by this unimaginable loss."