Three months after telling Tottenham he wanted to leave, Lucas Bergvall has signed a new contract with the club. The 20-year-old Sweden midfielder's decision follows a turbulent end to last season, in which Roberto de Zerbi's arrival as manager pushed him down the pecking order and left him considering a summer exit.
Bergvall's change of heart comes after a period of significant interest from elsewhere. Aston Villa and Chelsea both made enquiries over the summer, while Nottingham Forest saw a £38m bid rejected by Spurs. The new deal ends that uncertainty, at least for now, and represents a clear commitment from both player and club to make the project work.
"I think we're building something great here. It's an exciting time for the club and that's why I'm happy to extend my contract," Bergvall said. "I'm always trying to achieve as much as possible, to be the best version of myself both on and off the pitch and I know this is the right place to do that. Personally, my goal is to produce more for the team – performances, goals and assists – to help as much as I can. I'm getting better every day in training and I'm looking forward to what will be a really good season ahead."
The midfielder's frustration was understandable. Since De Zerbi took over late last season, Bergvall has been limited to 45 minutes of Premier League football this campaign. The competition in his position is stiff, with Sandro Tonali, Rodrigo Bentancur and Conor Gallagher all ahead of him in the pecking order. De Zerbi acknowledged the difficulty without sugar-coating it.
"It is difficult because of the competition in his position," he said. "Tonali, Bentancur and Gallagher are all a high level, but at the end of the season he will play a part in many games, I think, and then he has to improve."
The Italian has been here before with Bergvall. In July, he called the Swede "a top, top, top player" but made clear he would not try to "convince anyone to stay" against their wishes. That stance came with an admission of fault. De Zerbi conceded he had made mistakes in his handling of the player during a chaotic end to last season, in which Spurs narrowly avoided relegation.
Now, with the contract signed, the tone has shifted. "I believe his best football is still ahead of him and we want to give Lucas the platform to reach his full potential," De Zerbi said. "What I can say is I know very well what the club has done for him and I know very well what he has done for the club in the last month, two months."
Bergvall's international pedigree adds weight to the club's faith in him. He has been capped 14 times by Sweden and became his country's youngest men's player to appear at a World Cup. That profile, combined with his age, makes him a long-term asset. The question now is whether the playing time will follow.
De Zerbi said Spurs need to "help him improve" and described Bergvall as "fantastic" at the beginning of pre-season. The raw material is there. The path to regular minutes, however, runs through a midfield that is currently operating at a high level. Bergvall's new deal suggests he is willing to wait for his chance. Whether that patience pays off will depend on how quickly De Zerbi finds room for him.
Elsewhere at the club, there is a separate contract dispute that remains unresolved. Richarlison, the Brazil forward, is exploring his options after a proposed move to Vasco da Gama fell through. The 29-year-old is keen to be released from the remainder of his current deal, which runs out next summer, though Spurs can trigger a 12-month extension. He has been left out of the club's Premier League squad after a proposed deadline-day move to Everton also broke down.
De Zerbi was measured when asked about the situation. "What I can say is I know very well what the club has done for Richarlison and I know very well what Richarlison has done for the club in the last month, two months," he said. The manager's careful wording suggests a resolution is not imminent, and the forward's immediate future remains unclear.
For Bergvall, the contrast is stark. He wanted out, got the interest, and stayed. The new deal resets the relationship, but the real test comes on the pitch. Spurs have secured his signature. Now they have to find him minutes.
According to Yahoo Sports.