Free from any contract since his departure from Olympique de Marseille, will Roberto De Zerbi find a new challenge in the weeks to come? For now, it’s difficult to say, but the former Marseille coach continues to attract attention. With this in mind, Tottenham, today coached by Igor Tudor, but in a critical sporting situation, does not hide its interest in the 46-year-old Italian. To the point of seeing RDZ arrive in the northern suburbs of London? Nothing is less certain…
Indeed, if the Spurs seem won over by the profile of the native of Brescia, the supporters did not wait to express their anger. The LGBTQI+ association, Proud Lilywhites, attacked the former Marseille technician for his positions concerning Mason Greenwood (accused of rape and sexual assault), deemed incompatible with the values of inclusion and responsibility that the club must embody. “We have seen the rumors linking Roberto De Zerbi to the position of coach of Tottenham, and frankly, it does not seem appropriate to us”we can read in particular in comments reported by the Daily Mail.
A position that does not pass!
“As proud Lilywhites, we care deeply about this club, not only for what happens on the pitch, but also for what Tottenham stand for off it. It’s not just about results or style of play. It’s about values, identity and the kind of people we choose to represent us.”adds the press release. But Proud Lilywhites is not the only association to protest this possible arrival. The group Women of the Lane, for women and non-binary people, has also stepped up to the plate, as has Spurs Reach, which champions diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Football does not exist in a vacuum. Clubs set standards whether they like it or not, and those standards determine how people feel, who feels like they belong, and what behaviors are deemed acceptable. Spurs are at a stage where they need to rebuild, not only in terms of results, but also in terms of culture. The environment surrounding the team, at the training center and beyond, must be carefully considered and consistent. It must reflect the values that the club says it defends”said Women of the Lane. As a reminder, De Zerbi had pushed for Marseille to recruit Greenwood and never hesitated to publicly defend his player despite his history.
“Comments previously attributed to Roberto De Zerbi, including public remarks defending and contextualizing Mason Greenwood following serious allegations, have been widely criticized for appearing to downplay the seriousness of violence against women. Whatever the intention, such discourse risks trivializing harmful attitudes, minimizing the experiences of victims and sending an extremely worrying message about what is tolerated within the game.finally add the Spurs Reach. In short, you will have understood, on the Tottenham side, Roberto De Zerbi is clearly not welcome…
