"He thought he needed me" – Player on RDZ wanting him at Tottenham

Van Hecke explains De Zerbi specifically targeted him this summer, believing he needed a player with his profile for Tottenham's rebuild.

Tottenham defender Jan Paul van Hecke has revealed that manager Roberto De Zerbi deliberately pursued him in the summer transfer window, confident he was the right fit for his tactical system. The 26-year-old joined Spurs from Brighton for €60m and has quickly become integral to De Zerbi's plans, starting every Premier League game and emerging as the club's top scorer with two goals.

Van Hecke and De Zerbi previously worked together at Brighton, where the defender made 50 appearances under the Italian manager. The pair's familiarity meant De Zerbi knew exactly what he was getting. "He felt I was the right player for that role," Van Hecke said, explaining that De Zerbi's emphasis on total dominance naturally gives centre-backs significant involvement in possession.

Despite Tottenham's slow start to the season—six games without a win before a 3-1 victory over Coventry City—Van Hecke remains unfazed by criticism. He earned a Player of the Month nomination last month but stressed that team results matter more to him personally.