adminBefore Roberto De Zerbi arrived last month, Joao Palhinha’s long-term prospects at Tottenham Hotspur appeared bleak. The Portuguese defensive midfielder had featured for just 22 minutes across Igor Tudor’s final two games and was left on the bench entirely during the 3-0 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest.
Under previous managers Thomas Frank and Tudor, Palhinha often looked a misfit in Spurs’ midfield. He’s not a line-breaking, progressive passer designed to carve out chances for teammates.
However, De Zerbi already seems to have unlocked him. In the 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, Palhinha looked assured, completing 90% of his passes and winning four of six duels. After the match, the Italian coach made his feelings clear about keeping the loanee from Bayern Munich beyond this season.
De Zerbi’s stance on Palhinha’s future
De Zerbi is unequivocal: he wants Spurs to sign the former Fulham man permanently this summer. Asked directly if he wants to retain Palhinha, he said: “100 per cent. We have to start with those types of people. More than players, we need reliable people, reliable players. Palhinha is one of the best, as a player for sure and as a guy.
I want to see the player with the same passion, the same attitude, the same spirit, and the same personality, and we are lucky to have him.” These words strongly hint at a permanent North London return for the four-goal midfielder.
But he isn’t the only one flourishing under the new boss; a teammate is already shaping up as De Zerbi’s version of Luka Modric.
The Spurs player who could be De Zerbi’s Modric
Conor Gallagher was the standout in the win over Villa, opening the scoring with a superb long-range strike. Since his £34m January move from Atlético Madrid, the England international had looked lost in a hybrid right-wing and midfield role under Tudor, given too much ground to cover defensively. Under De Zerbi, however, the picture has shifted sharply.
Across the last two matches, Gallagher has been handed a clear, defined role, and his quality on the ball has shone. Against Wolves and Villa, he gave away possession just 17 times in 179 minutes and won four tackles.
The former Chelsea man now looks capable of being Spurs’ modern Modric—a reliable passer with an attacking edge, reminiscent of the Croatian who registered 17 goals and 24 assists in 160 games for the club.
Gallagher has started all four matches under De Zerbi, compared to Palhinha’s one, establishing himself as even more vital to the team. Deployed as the most advanced of a midfield three, he drives the press with relentless energy and is thriving in a system tailored to his strengths.
In this set-up, the 26-year-old has rapidly evolved into a key figure—arguably more central than Palhinha—and now looks destined for a major future at Spurs as a Modric-like talent who combines passing quality, goal threat, and pressing intensity.
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