Young Tottenham Hotspur left winger Mathys Tel has been overshadowed this summer transfer window with all the discussions about possible incomings to his position, which started with Manchester City star Savinho, continued with Liverpool's Cody Gakpo, and then had everyone under the sun floated around like Ferran Torres and even AC Milan's slumping Rafael Leao. And now, the latest contender is Savinho's Manchester City teammate Omar Marmoush, who was also coveted by the Lilywhite club in a previous transfer window.
All the while, Tel has quietly been Tottenham's best player in the preseason - the first preseason under Roberto De Zerbi as manager - forcing Spurs fans to take notice of their 2025 summer signing from Bayern Munich again.
Last season, even when Tottenham were utterly dreadful, Tel was the one guy creating shooting opportunities for himself and relentlessly attacking the penalty area with incisiveness. He clearly loves the club, and even Thomas Frank could not destroy that fire inside him. And he was so good that he was the one young prospect able to convince De Zerbi into starting him at the end of the season during the thick of the successful Premier League relegation fight.
Mathys Tel is already what Spurs are looking for
While Mathys Tel has been great every time he has stepped on the pitch in this summer's friendlies, his world class free kick goal against Sydney FC - Tottenham's only one from open play on the day - was a microcosm of why Tottenham, as a club, have to believe in the U23 Frenchman.
Tel's placement, technique, and courage to step up and postage stamp that goal from the top of the outside of the box were pure perfection, and Tottenham have not had a great free kick taker over the past few years besides the club's biggest ever legend, Harry Kane.
It takes great technical ability and fortitude to score a goal like that, and Tel, right now, has the best goal scoring qualities, technical ability, and mentality of any of the attacking players, making him a great partner for Mohammed Kudus when the electric dribbling Ghanaian makes his full return.
Tottenham are going to need to sign more forwards, but Tel has ensured his place in Roberto De Zerbi's mind with just one beautiful strike. Of course, that strike comes with the context of a whole lot of great moments and an even better character for the locker room, but that pure goal of the highest order is the most distinct reminder that Tel has that game changing quality on the wings that Spurs yearn for. It is already theirs.
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