Tottenham Hotspur’s marquee summer investment is already turning into a major talking point in North London, but for all the wrong reasons. Following an eye-watering £85 million transfer fee, former West Ham United standout Mateus Fernandes is struggling immensely to justify his massive price tag under Roberto de Zerbi.
The situation reached a boiling point over the weekend during Spurs’ 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa. Following a dismal first-half display, De Zerbi hauled Fernandes off at halftime, replacing him with another former Hammer in Mohammed Kudus. In his post-match press conference, the Italian manager publicly criticized the midfielder, demanding more from a player who commanded such a staggering fee.
However, football fans and pundits alike agree that the blame lies squarely on the manager’s shoulders. The reason Fernandes is struggling to replicate his brilliant East London form is blindingly obvious to everyone—except, it seems, the Tottenham coaching staff.
Playing Out of Position: The Number Eight vs. Number Ten Problem
During his stellar campaign with West Ham, Fernandes established himself as one of the most complete, press-resistant central midfielders in the Premier League, rivaling top talents with his elite ball-winning capabilities and exceptional ball-progression numbers. He topped the charts for tackles and key passes, operating as an all-action, deep-lying number eight who excels at dictating the tempo from deep.
At Tottenham, however, De Zerbi has insisted on shoehorning the Portuguese under-21 international into an advanced number ten role.
This tactical miscalculation entirely strips Fernandes of his greatest strengths. Denied the space to win the ball back deep, evade the opposition press, and drive his team forward from deep positions, the midfielder has looked entirely lost. Against Aston Villa, playing out of his natural habitat, Fernandes managed just 38 touches, failed to register a single key pass, and put up two tame shots before being mercifully hooked at the interval.
Supporters who watched him blossom in East London have voiced their bafflement on social media.
”I’m a West Ham fan and obviously have no love for Spurs,” one supporter noted. “But I promise you that boy is worth every penny. Drop him into an 8, not a 10, let him dictate the game. He’s got everything.”
De Zerbi’s Stubbornness Threatens an £85M Asset
De Zerbi defended his decision after the match, insisting he has ultimate confidence in the player while maintaining that Fernandes simply needs to deliver more regardless of where he lines up.
”I have a big confidence in Mateus, but I didn’t like the performance of Mateus [against Aston Villa],” De Zerbi stated. “He knows, but it’s normal. It’s not an attack on Mateus, I love Mateus… But I think for Mateus, we need more from Mateus. Because he can do more, even in that position.”
Yet, asking an elite deep-lying playmaker to function as a traditional attacking midfielder for £85 million is a recipe for disaster. Fernandes is not a player designed to receive static back-to-goal passes in a crowded final third; he is the engine that drives a team from deep.
The solution to Tottenham’s £85 million problem is glaringly simple: drop Mateus Fernandes back into his natural central midfield role. The only question remaining is whether Roberto de Zerbi will swallow his pride and make the tactical adjustment before this high-priced transfer completely unravels.
