Tottenham Hotspur veteran backup defensive midifelder Rodrigo Bentancur is actually eligible to return this weekend in Premier League action when Spurs take on plucky underdogs Leeds United, who are fresh off a 2-0 loss to AFC Bournemouth while the Lilywhites are riding high after another 2-0 victory against a local London rival, this time over struggling Crystal Palace.
While Spurs have won all three straight games since Bentancur's red card suspension for soft headbutt of Manchester United's resident troll Luke Shaw, none of that says anything about Benta, who has actually been fantastic this season when he has played.
A quiet favorite of Roberto De Zerbi's, Bentancur was crucial to Tottenham surviving the Premier League drop last season, and there's a serious case to be made that he was the best outfield player on the team during those final weeks. He was also great for Uruguay at the World Cup despite his country being the biggest flops of the tournament, and he was even better than that to start the season while new signings Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes were both getting fit and adjusted to life at N17.
Rodrigo Bentancur is important for saving Sandro Tonali
Well, Tonali and Fernandes have 100 percent adjusted now. They were two of the standout players on the pitch in both 2-0 wins against rivals Chelsea and Crystal Palace, playing lights out and showing a chemistry beyond their individual selves, with Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham Hotspur fans now having to think that the combined 185 million pounds on the duo was an actual bargain buy.
Rodrigo Bentancur's return, though, is still a huge deal for Tottenham, because even though he isn't going to be a regular starter over either Tonali or Fernandes, in a grueling Premier League season, he's still going to get minutes. And his quality, intelligence, willingness to scrap defensively, and leadership will be key to spelling Sandro Tonali whenever the Italian international needs rest.
The way Tonali is working and the way he is playing, he is too important not to rest. Tottenham fans saw last season the consequences when a new signing who becomes crucial to the team gets run into the ground, and Spurs would ideally like to avoid the same situation that befell Mohammed Kudus with a season ending injury last season from occurring to Tonali, who is even more crucial to a much better Spurs team in 2026/27.
Bentancur's return will give De Zerbi more peace of mind, Tonali more rest, and Tottenham yet another great midfield option to bully teams into submission.
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