Sandro Tonali says he decided within 10 minutes to join Tottenham after speaking with manager Roberto de Zerbi, completing a club-record £100m move from Newcastle. Their shared connection to Brescia, Tonali’s boyhood club, helped persuade the midfielder despite Spurs having finished 17th in the previous Premier League season.

De Zerbi first made contact through a mutual friend last season, then met Tonali at his home near Brescia after Tottenham secured survival. Tonali said London accounted for only about 10% of his decision, with football, his manager and the club’s recruitment plans more important; he also said a return to Italy was financially impossible because of the transfer fee, while praising former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.