Tottenham fans have been looking forward to the relegation-threatened club to usher in a substitute as quickly as possible after Igor Tudor was axed just 44 days into his spell as head coach.
But Spurs’ decision to narrow down their search to Roberto De Zerbi has not been well received by some corners of the fanbase – and it’s the Italian’s previous comments about Mason Greenwood which have caused such friction.
Official confirmation of De Zerbi’s appointment arrived this evening, with the ex-Brighton boss putting pen to paper on a five-year deal in north London – his first job since leaving Marseille by mutual consent last month.
Throughout his spell near two-year-long spell in command of Marseille, De Zerbi threw his support behind Greenwood, a player once lauded as a possible superstar of English football.
Nevertheless, Greenwood joined Marseille two-and-a-half years after he had been arrested on suspicion of rape and assault in January 31, 2022. He was further arrested February 1, 2022 on suspicion of sexual assault and making threats to kill.
The young forward was subsequently charged October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Greenwood denied the costs.
The Manchester United academy product had been because of stand trial in November 2023, just for the costs to be dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service [CPS] in February 2023.
Your football fix
Metro‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy evaluation, transfer talk and his tackle the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.
Enroll here, it’s an open goal.
‘A mixture of the withdrawal of key witnesses and latest material that got here to light meant there was now not a sensible prospect of conviction,’ the CPS said in a press release.
What comments did Roberto De Zerbi make about Mason Greenwood?
Marseille received heavy criticism over their decision to sign Greenwood back in 2024, with town’s mayor, Benoit Payan, even urging the club not to usher in the player on the time.
But De Zerbi, who was appointed just 19 days before the transfer was agreed, suggested he was supportive of the concept as Marseille closed in on a deal for the England international.
‘Mason is a world-class player, but now we have not recruited him yet,’ De Zerbi told reporters when asked a few proposed agreement for Greenwood.
‘I don’t know what happened, but I’m not used to get entangled in my players’ private life.
‘But when he comes here, you’ve gotten to know that I treat all my players like my sons. I can tell them off in private, but I’d never attack them in public.’
Once Greenwood was through the doors, De Zerbi insisted the previous Manchester United attacker – who has been capped once by the England national team – was a ‘good guy’.
He also suggested he was ‘saddened’ by how Greenwood had been represented by the press in his native England.
‘He’s a superb guy, he paid a heavy price for what happened, a really heavy price,’ De Zerbi said within the media when asked about Greenwood last November.
‘He has found the fitting environment for him. We now have lent him a hand and given him affection. He’s somewhat bit introverted but I do know him and his family.
‘It saddens me what happened in his life, because I do know a very different person than the one who was described in England.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an internet
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Several supporter groups – and high-profile fans reminiscent of Rachel Riley – pushed for Manchester United to terminate Greenwood’s contract after the allegations got here to light in 2022.
And there have been several groups against the appointment of De Zerbi on the idea of his past remarks about Greenwood.
THFC Flags, a fan-led group ‘committed to promoting and amplifying this culture’ on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, were amongst those to affix the ‘No to De Zerbi’ campaign before the Italian touched down within the capital.
A press release from the group read: ‘Tottenham Hotspur claims to be a club that prides itself on being inclusive, supportive and protected.
‘As a gaggle committed to promoting and amplifying this culture, in the assumption this may create the very best environment and atmosphere to enjoy football, we’re extremely disenchanted and dismayed by the publicised pursuit of Roberto De Zerbi…
‘De Zerbi just isn’t the sort of person we wish related to our club or representing us. No to De Zerbi.’
Proud Lilywhites, Spurs’ official LGBTQ+ fans’ group, said: ‘When someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood, it matters, not only in isolation but in what it signals.’
Meanwhile, Women of the Lane, whose aim is to remove sexism and misogyny in football, argued that De Zerbi’s comments raised ‘serious questions on judgement and leadership’ inside the club.
Roberto De Zerbi’s first words as Tottenham boss
In his opening statement as Tottenham head coach, a ‘delighted’ De Zerbi said he was committed to steering the club back towards the fitting end of the table again.
The north Londoners are currently hovering only one point above the relegation zone after slumping to a wretched 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest in Tudor’s final match on the helm.
‘I’m delighted to be joining this implausible football club, which is certainly one of the largest and most prestigious on the planet,’ De Zerbi told Spurs’ official website.
‘In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the long run has been clear – to construct a team able to reaching great achievements, and to do this playing a sort of football that excites and inspires our supporters.
‘I’m here because I consider in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to provide all the pieces to deliver it.
‘Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which can be the whole focus until the ultimate whistle of the last game of the season.
‘I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and dealing with these players to realize that.’
Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange added: ‘Roberto was our primary goal for the summer and we’re very happy to give you the chance to bring him in now.
‘He’s one of the crucial creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football, and brings with him a wealth of experience at the very best level, including within the Premier League.’
Is De Zerbi the fitting man for Tottenham?
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the most recent news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Manchester United stance on Myles Lewis-Skelly transfer after being ‘offered’ Arsenal star
MORE: Sam Allardyce urges Man Utd star to reject England call-up for the World Cup
MORE: Tottenham slammed for signing £35m former Chelsea star ahead of Manchester United