It appears that key figures at Tottenham at least considered Roberto De Zerbi’s controversial Mason Greenwood comments during the hiring process.
De Zerbi has now been confirmed as Tottenham’s next head coach, becoming the club’s third different boss to take charge of the club this season after Igor Tudor and Thomas Frank.
Spurs fans will be desperately hoping that the Italian can steer the club to safety, with the Lilywhites sitting on the brink of the relegation zone.
De Zerbi has expressed his excitement ahead of his new challenge at Tottenham, but he may have work to do to win over some Spurs fans.
Tottenham considered Roberto De Zerbi’s past comments on Mason Greenwood
Three Tottenham fan groups have expressed their opposition to De Zerbi’s appointment, questioning his fit with the values the club stands for.
The controversy surrounds the Italian’s past defence of Mason Greenwood, who moved to Marseille after he was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault, only for the charges to be dropped later due to the withdrawal of key witnesses.
De Zerbi said about Greenwood (via The Standard): “He’s a good guy, he paid a heavy price for what happened, a very heavy price. He has found the right environment for him. We have lent him a hand and given him affection.
“He’s a little bit introverted but I know him and his family. It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described in England.”
BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel has revealed that Tottenham did consider the former Brighton boss’s comments about Greenwood before finalising his appointment.
This suggests that Vinai Venkatesham and the Spurs hierarchy may not have seen those comments or the misgivings of some Tottenham supporters as enough of a reason to stop the hiring process.
De Zerbi was the overwhelming first-choice for Spurs
Mokbel also reveals in BBC Sport’s live feed that the 46-year-old had always been Tottenham’s overwhelming first choice.
He says that the club tried to get De Zerbi through the door as soon as they sacked Thomas Frank, but a deal was not possible as the Italian himself had only just left Marseille.
Finally, the journalist confirms that despite his initial hesitance to jump into Tottenham immediately, De Zerbi ‘was always open’ to taking the Spurs job.