Xavi Simons faces make-or-break run of games to salvage Tottenham career
Xavi Simons has been warned he has just seven games to save his Tottenham Hotspur career following a difficult first season in North London. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder, a €60 million signing from RB Leipzig last summer, has struggled to adapt to the Premier League, registering just four goals and five assists in 38 appearances. According to pundits speaking on the talkSPORT Inside Spurs podcast, the arrival of new head coach Roberto De Zerbi provides a final, crucial opportunity for the Dutch international to prove his worth.
Simons arrived at Tottenham with a strong reputation, having been a key figure for both RB Leipzig and the Netherlands. However, his first season in England has been underwhelming, failing to fill the creative void left by injuries to key players like Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Mohammed Kudus. With Tottenham in 17th place and battling relegation, the pressure is mounting on the club's record signing to deliver.
Analysts suggest that De Zerbi's tactical system could be the key to unlocking Simons's potential. Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge noted that Simons could be given a more central, creative role under the new manager, a position from which he thrived earlier in his career. This tactical shift, moving him from the wing into a central number ten role, is seen as crucial to his success. The coming matches are viewed as a final audition, with the player's long-term future at the club hanging in the balance.
Podcast host Abbi Summers suggested that De Zerbi's style of play might be a better fit for Simons. She argued that the manager's system could provide the structure for Simons to finally showcase his talent. However, co-host Sonny Snelling offered a stark counterpoint, bluntly stating that Simons's Tottenham career could be over if he fails to impress during this critical period. The club's significant investment and the player's high-profile status mean the next few games are pivotal for his future in North London.
Simons showed flashes of his potential in a Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid last season, but his subsequent and unexpected benching by former manager Igor Tudor was described as "baffling" by pundits. With De Zerbi now at the helm, Simons has a final chance to prove he can be the creative fulcrum the team desperately needs. The next seven games will be a definitive test of his ability to adapt and justify the club's significant outlay, or face an uncertain future at the club.
