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Tottenham Hotspur did not pay head coach Roberto De Zerbi a survival bonus for securing Premier League safety last season, despite the Italian manager successfully guiding North London clear of a high-stakes relegation battle.
According to details reported by journalist Matt Law and shared by Last Word On Spurs on X, De Zerbi’s lucrative contract at Hotspur Way did not include any specific financial bonus or incentive tied to avoiding relegation.
The clarification regarding De Zerbi’s financial arrangements follows lighthearted comments made by the Italian manager during a recent media briefing. Reflecting on taking his squad out for an expensive team-bonding dinner at Mayfair restaurant Bacchanalia to foster unit cohesion, De Zerbi joked with reporters about paying for team meals out of his personal salary, quipping that as long as he had sufficient funds for cigarettes, he was satisfied.
However, subsequent media reports confirmed that no contractual survival bonus was awarded for avoiding the drop. De Zerbi was appointed during a turbulent stretch of the previous campaign, taking over a struggling side and steadying results to ensure top-flight continuity before embarking on an extensive summer squad restructuring.
Focus Shifts Entirely to 2026/27 Campaign
While the previous season centered on stabilizing the club’s Premier League standing, expectations for the 2026/27 campaign are focused on competing for European qualification and silverware. Following a major summer transfer window that brought significant investment in players such as Omar Marmoush, Savinho, and Mohammed Kudus, De Zerbi is tasked with translating squad depth into consistent domestic results.
With Tottenham currently focused on ending a four-match goal drought in the Premier League, De Zerbi remains dedicated to tactical development and squad fitness. As Spurs prepare for a midweek Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool at Anfield before hosting Aston Villa on Saturday, internal attention remains fixed on achieving progress across all domestic competitions.
