Spurs fans have come to immediate verdict on Joao Palhinha after his debut against Bayern Munich
Tottenham Hotspur supporters have taken to social media to voice their mixed – and in many cases frustrated – reactions after watching Joao Palhinha make his first appearance for the club in a pre-season clash against Bayern Munich.
On Thursday night, Spurs travelled to the Allianz Arena to face the reigning Bundesliga champions as both sides continued their pre-season preparations. It was a tough evening for Thomas Frank’s side, who fell to a heavy 4-0 defeat, but much of the post-match chatter from fans centred on Palhinha’s underwhelming first outing in a Spurs shirt.
The Portugal international, who only recently completed a season-long loan move from Bayern to North London, was handed a starting spot by Frank. However, his debut lasted just 45 minutes before he was replaced at the start of the second half by teenage midfielder Lucas Bergvall.
That early substitution set tongues wagging among Spurs supporters online. While some urged patience, others did not hold back in their criticism.
One fan wrote bluntly: “There’s a high chance now after watching Palhinha that Bissouma remains our best number six.” Another was even more cutting: “Can we leave Palhinha in Germany?”
Others questioned the logic behind his signing, with one comment reading: “We needed a playmaker, not Palhinha. And we need a 10.” Another supporter added: “Palhinha either isn’t ready yet – which is strange – or there’s a reason Bayern let him go.”
Some were quick to point out his lack of impact in the game, with one tweet stating: “Palhinha hooked at half-time and rightfully so, the guy’s been awful.” Another fan, choosing their words carefully, wrote: “Palhinha btw… lemme not say too much yet lol.”
The match itself did little to lift the mood. French winger Kingsley Coman extended Bayern’s lead to 2-0 on 61 minutes, before further goals from Lennart Karl and Jonah Kusi-Asare wrapped up a convincing 4-0 victory for Vincent Kompany’s side.
Palhinha is one of several new arrivals at Tottenham this summer, joining a recruitment list that includes Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso, Luka Vuskovic, and Kota Takai. However, the club has also been dealt a devastating blow with the loss of their creative heartbeat, James Maddison.
Maddison, who was stretchered off during last week’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in Seoul, has been diagnosed with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The injury will require surgery, ruling him out for the majority of the 2025/26 season.
A club statement confirmed:
“We can confirm that James Maddison will undergo surgery for a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The 28-year-old midfielder suffered the injury during our pre-season friendly against Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul. His surgery will take place in the coming days and, following that, James will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team. Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur wishes James a full and speedy recovery. We will be supporting him every step of the way.”
With Maddison sidelined and Palhinha’s debut failing to inspire confidence, Tottenham find themselves with questions to answer as the new season draws closer. Thomas Frank will now be under pressure to quickly integrate his summer signings and find a formula that can get the best out of a squad that still appears to be searching for balance.