Former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has revealed his intention to join Tottenham immediately as their new manager. italian sky.
italian sky It was reported on Sunday that talks are expected to take place with De Zerbi over a five-year contract offer with Spurs seeking a third managerial appointment of the season following the departure of Igor Tudor.
Sky Sports News It is understood Tottenham would prefer Tudor’s appointment to be permanent after he has played seven games in 44 days.
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Sky Sports News’ Michael Bridge examines whether Roberto De Zervi could replace Igor Tudor as Tottenham manager as the club struggles to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Sky Sports News has been reporting for weeks that all options are being considered, including accelerating summer targeting.
De Zerbi ranks high among them, along with Mauricio Pochettino and others.
Has De Zerbi changed his mind?
De Zervi is available after leaving Marseille in February italian sky It was reported last week that he is not expected to join Tottenham or any other club before the end of the season.
The 46-year-old has sought to avoid an immediate return to football so he can assess his options in the summer.
But he has had a change of heart and now looks set to join relegation-threatened Spurs.
The north London club sit just one place and one point above the relegation zone with just seven Premier League games remaining.
Tottenham are aiming to avoid relegation to the second tier for the first time since 1977 and their next game will be played live at Sunderland on April 12. Sky Sports.
Sunday, April 12th at 1pm
Kickoff at 2pm
De Zervi could be ready to return to the Premier League after managing Brighton for almost two seasons. There he achieved the club’s best-ever top-flight performance, securing European qualification for the first time in their history after finishing sixth in the 2022/23 campaign.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk coach left the Seagulls at the end of next season after finishing in 11th place and qualifying for the Europa League on Sunday.
De Zervi joined Marseille in the summer of 2024 and left by mutual agreement following their exit from the Champions League stage last month and a 5-0 thrashing at Paris Saint-Germain, which left them fourth in Ligue 1 after finishing runners-up to PSG the previous season.
Why Spurs fans’ group opposes De Zerbi appointment
Three Tottenham fan groups have urged the club to reconsider the possible appointment of De Zervi, who previously backed Marseille striker Mason Greenwood.
Fan groups Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach have all expressed concern about the Italian working with Greenwood at Marseille.
Former Manchester United forward Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behavior and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over charges relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.
Prosecutors dismissed the indictment in February 2023, citing “the withdrawal of key witnesses” and “no realistic possibility of conviction.” Greenwood later resumed his career and joined Marseille in 2024.
Last November, De Zerby described Greenwood as a “good man” who had paid a “big price”, adding: “I’m sad what happened in his life, because I know people who are completely different from the person described.”
Proud Lilywhites, Tottenham’s LGBTQI+ fans group, said: “We have seen reports linking Roberto De Zerbi with the Tottenham job and frankly that is not appropriate.
“As Proud Lilywhites, we care deeply about this club, not just what happens on the pitch, but what Tottenham stands for. This is not just about results or style of football. It is about values, identity and the kind of people we choose to represent us.
“We all want Spurs to move forward, but how we do that is important. When someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood and frames it in a way that downplays the seriousness of what happened, it’s important not only in isolation but what it signals.
“We are proud of the progress we have made in making football more inclusive and welcoming.
“That progress is important and cannot be compromised or treated as secondary.
“We are not asking for perfection. We are asking for accountability, transparency and leadership that reflects the values this club stands for. All together, all the time. It has to be meaningful. For De Zerbi, that is not the case.”
Women of the Lane added: “We want to make it clear how this (speculation) is affecting so many women and allies in our community.
“De Zerbi has publicly defended Mason Greenwood in a way that downplays the severity of male violence against women and girls, which raises serious questions about judgment and leadership.
“This is not a commitment Tottenham Hotspur should be making.”
A statement from Spurs Reach said: “Previous comments by Roberto De Zerbi, including public comments defending and contextualizing Mason Greenwood following serious allegations, have been widely criticized for appearing to minimize the seriousness of violence against women.
“Regardless of intent, framing of this nature risks normalizing harmful attitudes, diminishing the survivor experience, and sending a message of deep concern about what is acceptable within the game.
“We all want the club to develop, but it has to do so in a way that reflects the club’s values. De Zerbi doesn’t do that.”
