De Zerbi apologises over Greenwood remarks

Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham's newly appointed head coach on a five-year contract, has apologised for comments he made about Mason Greenwood while managing Marseille.

Speaking in Italian during his first interview with club media, De Zerbi said he never meant to downplay violence against women or anyone. He said: "In my life I have always stood up for who are more vulnerable, more fragile... I apologise to those who I offended with this subject matter. I have a daughter and I'm very sensitive to these things and always have been." He added he hoped people would get to know him and understand that he "didn't mean to take a stance" in that moment.

The apology follows criticism of remarks he made in November at Marseille, when he described Greenwood as a "good guy" who had paid a "heavy price" and said it "saddens me what happened in his life because I know a totally different person than the one who was described." The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust said De Zerbi's appointment "raises serious and far-reaching concerns" and warned the club about strong feeling among supporters.

Greenwood moved to Marseille from Manchester United in 2024 after criminal charges — including attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm — were discontinued. The Crown Prosecution Service said the decision followed "a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light," meaning there was "no realistic prospect of conviction."

Sky Sports News reports the Spurs board weighed the views around De Zerbi's association with Greenwood during the recruitment process. De Zerbi is expected to address the matter further at his first press conference.