LONDON — Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi admitted he was not surprised by the backlash from a section of fans over his past comments on Mason Greenwood.
Several Tottenham supporters’ groups objected to the 46-year-old being hired by the struggling Premier League side due to his backing of Greenwood during their time at Marseille.
De Zerbi managed Greenwood at the French club after the former Manchester United striker faced charges — which were later dropped — of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2022.
The Italian described Greenwood last year as a “good guy” who had paid a “heavy price” and added according to AFP: “It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described.”
De Zerbi, who will take charge of Tottenham for the first time at Sunderland on Sunday, faced questions about his role in helping Greenwood resume his career at Marseille.
Asked about the fan criticism, De Zerbi said: “I wasn’t surprised. I was a bit sad and sorry it happened, because I’m sorry if somebody took offence.
“I must repeat what I said the other time. This topic is very close to me, I’m very sensitive about this topic, because of the person I am and because I have a daughter.
“And so I must repeat what I said the other time. I have always been against – always – any type of violence, especially against women. But not only violence – even just sexist jokes or other sexist behaviour.
“I know who I am, I know the type of person I am, so I wasn’t annoyed by the questions, I’m just sad about them.”
Greenwood was charged in October 2022 after images and videos were posted online.
But the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges in February 2023 owing to “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light”, which meant there was “no realistic prospect of conviction”.
Greenwood, who denied the charges, subsequently resumed his career and joined Marseille in 2024 under De Zerbi.
Asked if he hoped fans accept his apology, De Zerbi said: “Yes, also because I’m not going to go back over this topic.
“I spoke about it in my first interview, I spoke about it today and it wouldn’t be right to go back over this topic again.”
De Zerbi will start his Tottenham reign with the club in the relegation zone after West Ham’s 4-0 win against Wolves on Friday lifted them above the north Londoners.
Tottenham haven’t played in the second tier since 1977-78.
