Roberto De Zerbi, appointed Tottenham head coach on a five-year deal, has been criticised by the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust over comments he made supporting Mason Greenwood while manager of Marseille.
The Trust said De Zerbi’s arrival “raises serious and far-reaching concerns” and warned the club it had been directly told about the “strength of feeling” among supporters. It acknowledged the “immediate priority” is avoiding relegation — Spurs are one point above the drop zone with seven games to go — but said the appointment risks dividing the fanbase.
Last November De Zerbi described Greenwood as a “good guy” who paid a “heavy price” and added: “It saddens me what happened in his life because I know a totally different person than the one who was described.” Greenwood joined Marseille from Manchester United in 2024 after charges against him — including attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm — were dropped. The Crown Prosecution Service said the charges were discontinued because of “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 understands the Spurs board carefully considered the sentiments around De Zerbi’s association with Greenwood during the hiring process, and the new head coach is expected to address the issue.
The Trust called De Zerbi’s comments “unnecessary, ill-judged, and deeply offensive to a significant number of supporters” and warned unchecked statements of that nature “will create a divide among supporters at a time when we all need to be pulling together to back the team.” The group said it is “concerning that the club would put us in this position right when the team needs fans the most” and argued the appointment places strain on the club’s “All Together, Always” initiative. It added: “If those remarks reflect his genuine views, they cast a troubling shadow over the values of the club we love.”
Advocating a short-term appointment until the end of the season, the Trust accused the club of risking erosion of confidence in its integrity and ethical standards and criticised prolonged strategic failings that left options compromised. It called for transparency, accountability and a renewed commitment to Tottenham’s defining principles to begin restoring many fans’ faith.
Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol said the board were aware of the strength of feeling, have spoken to De Zerbi about it, and that the matter has been addressed behind closed doors and will be addressed publicly, including at De Zerbi’s first press conference.