Tottenham Hotspur’s new midfielder Sandro Tonali has admitted that adapting to a new club requires starting over and building fresh relationships with teammates, staff and supporters.Tonali, who joined Tottenham from Newcastle United in a club-record deal this summer, spoke about the challenges of settling into a new environment ahead of his first Premier League meeting with his former club.“Every time you change clubs, you have to start over. You have to build new relationships with teammates, staff and fans,” Tonali said during an interaction with JioHotstar.

The Italy international, however, believes he has an advantage at Tottenham because of his familiarity with head coach Roberto De Zerbi and members of the coaching staff.

“I’m lucky because I already know the staff here, which makes things easier, especially at the start of the season,” he said.

Tonali’s special connection with De Zerbi

Tonali and De Zerbi share a long-standing connection through Brescia. The midfielder spent around a decade in the city and came through the youth system at Brescia, where he eventually made his professional debut.De Zerbi, who is also from Brescia, has previously spoken highly of Tonali and was one of the key reasons behind the midfielder’s decision to move to Tottenham.Tonali described his first extended conversation with De Zerbi as special, saying they spoke both as friends and as a player and manager. The Italian midfielder said the conversation played an important role in convincing him to join Spurs.

Record signing joins Tottenham rebuild

Tottenham officially announced Tonali’s arrival from Newcastle on July 6. The 26-year-old signed as part of a major squad rebuild under De Zerbi.The transfer was reported as a club-record deal worth up to £100 million, including an initial £92.5 million payment and potential add-ons.Tonali left Newcastle after making 110 appearances for the club and helping them win the 2025 League Cup. He also played 53 times during his final season on Tyneside, including 11 Champions League appearances.

“I work hard for my teammates”

Tonali also spoke about the kind of player he wants to be for Tottenham. The midfielder emphasised his willingness to work for the team rather than focus solely on individual performances.He is expected to play a key role in De Zerbi’s midfield as Tottenham look to rebuild after finishing 17th in the Premier League last season.

Tonali also praised the atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and said the supporters can have a major influence on matches.“I play as a number six, and I play a lot with the defence. I can’t wait to play at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,” he said, adding that the fans can “change the game in two minutes.”The midfielder now faces a particularly emotional test, with Tottenham set to take on Newcastle United, the club he represented for three seasons before making the move to north London.