Credit: Imago

Scott Mason

Sun 31 May 2026 19:10, UK

Rodrigo Bentancur is going to the World Cup, but Tottenham Hotspur will have fears about the Uruguayan midfielder.

The 28-year-old has been an important part of the squad in N17 over the last few years, and Roberto De Zerbi will no doubt look to keep it that way.

Bentancur is a seasoned professional, and during an injury this season, the Lilywhites failed to win a single game without him.

His return, which did coincide with De Zerbi’s appointment, brought greener pastures, and results changed dramatically.

However, while Bentancur has deservedly won a World Cup call-up, there is one reason the North London club may feel worried.

Why Tottenham will have Rodrigo Bentancur fears at the World Cup

Bentancur has had plenty of injury problems since joining Tottenham. He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his first full season.

Now, during this campaign, Bentancur had to undergo surgery to fix a hamstring issue. It is far from ideal for Tottenham to have a player who has had such terrible injury circumstances.

During his whole spell at Tottenham, Bentancur has missed a total of 73 matches for both club and country. It is a worrying statistic.

After coming back from his hamstring surgery, the midfielder was thrown straight back into the action, starting the final six games of the season.

He played 477 minutes, which equates to 88 per cent of the total minutes available to the Uruguayan.

During that period, it also saw Tottenham win three matches, draw twice and lose once, bringing a points-per-game total of 1.8.

While Tottenham needed to start their best players amid a relegation battle, including Bentancur, they may have been secretly hoping that he would get a rest this summer.

Nonetheless, Bentancur has made the official Uruguay World Cup squad and can add to his 74 international caps.

Why Bentancur will have crucial role under Roberto De Zerbi

Bentancur has been pinpointed by De Zerbi as someone who played a crucial role in changing the dynamics inside the changing room.

Despite only returning from injury, it was the 28-year-old who actually pushed to get a place back in the starting lineup.

De Zerbi stated: “Because Bentancur, when he came back from the injury, wanted to play. He came to me to say, ‘hey, I want to play. I’m ready to play.’

That attitude is exactly what Tottenham need in N17, and as they look to finish much higher in the 2026-2027 Premier League table, Bentancur will certainly have a big role.