What did Roberto De Zerbi say about Mason Greenwood to cause controversy?

Callum Vurley
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:42:47 +0000

Roberto De Zerbi has been confirmed as Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach, signing a five-year contract with the north London club on Tuesday evening.

The Italian arrives at a critical moment, with Spurs hovering just a single point above the Premier League relegation zone and seven matches remaining in the season.

De Zerbi becomes the club's third manager this campaign, taking over from Igor Tudor, who departed by mutual agreement after a mere 44 days in charge.

Tudor's final match ended in a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

The former Brighton boss had been without a role since leaving Marseille by mutual consent in February, following a 5-0 thrashing by PSG and elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Club Brugge.

However, his appointment has already sparked significant backlash from multiple supporter groups.

What did Roberto De Zerbi say about Mason Greenwood?

The controversy centres on remarks De Zerbi made while managing Greenwood at Marseille, where he was appointed just 19 days before the club signed the former Manchester United forward in 2024.

When questioned about the proposed transfer, De Zerbi stated: "Mason is a world-class player, but we have not recruited him yet. I don't know what happened, but I am not used to get involved in my players' private life."

Following Greenwood's arrival, the Italian coach offered further public support for the player.

"He's a good guy, he paid a heavy price for what happened, a very heavy price," De Zerbi told reporters last November. "He has found the right environment for him. We have lent him a hand and given him affection."

The manager also expressed that he felt "saddened" by how Greenwood had been portrayed by the English media, adding: "The person I know here is very different to the one that has been described, especially in England."

What have Tottenham fan groups said?

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust issued a strongly worded statement following the announcement, revealing they had raised concerns directly with the club before it was made public.

"De Zerbi's comments about Mason Greenwood were unnecessary, ill-judged, and deeply offensive to a significant number of supporters and, without doubt, will have left victims of male violence alarmed," the Trust stated.

The organisation warned that such statements, if left unaddressed, risked creating division among the fanbase at precisely the moment unity was most needed.

"It is concerning that the club would put us in this position right when the team needs fans the most," the statement continued. "Fans are rallying behind the 'All Together, Always' initiative, and this appointment places heavy strain on that unity."

The Trust added that if De Zerbi's remarks reflected his genuine beliefs, they "cast a troubling shadow over the values of the club we love."

Women of the Lane, a group dedicated to combating sexism and misogyny in football, argued that De Zerbi's comments raised "serious questions about judgement and leadership" within the club.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: "The fact is that he hired him as a player, and then continue to publicly back him and support him, sympathise with him. For me, that's just unforgivable."

She added: "This is about how we feel, this is about values, this is about integrity and, ultimately, it's about safety. It's about women feeling that they are safe around other men."

Proud Lilywhites, the club's official LGBTQ+ supporters' association, also voiced opposition, stating: "When someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood, it matters, not just in isolation but in what it signals."

THFC Flags, which organises banners at the stadium, had joined a "No to De Zerbi" campaign prior to his arrival.

The Supporters' Trust expressed a preference for a short-term appointment of someone familiar with the club to guide the team through the remaining fixtures, with a broader managerial search conducted over the summer.

"The club has chosen otherwise," the statement concluded. "We will continue to support efforts to get behind the team and play our part in preserving the club's Premier League status but it is understandable that many fans will do so with a heavy heart."

In his first comments as Spurs head coach, De Zerbi declared himself "delighted" to join what he described as "one of the biggest and most prestigious" clubs in world football.

"Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season," he said.

Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of rape and assault, with further arrests following for suspected sexual assault and threats to kill. He was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which he denied. The CPS dropped all charges in February 2023, citing withdrawn witnesses and new material.