Roberto De Zerbi Told He Cannot Sign Mason Greenwood at Spurs

Roberto De Zerbi has been told he cannot sign Mason Greenwood under any circumstances after becoming Tottenham Hotspur boss, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Sources close to the club have told SportsBoom that newly-appointed De Zerbi DID NOT express an interest to bring controversial Greenwood back to the Premier League during the negotiation process.

But it is understood club bosses have told the former Brighton and Hove Albion chief, who worked with the winger during his time at Marseille, that he will not be allowed to sign the player for the club if the desire arose.

The Spurs’ hierarchy are worried about the optics among fans, with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust strongly criticising the appointment of De Zerbi due to his support for Greenwood in the past.

Former Manchester United academy product Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning ABH in 2022.

The CPS discontinued the case in 2023 after key witnesses withdrew their involvement.

Greenwood had been eyeing a controversial return to the Premier League, as SportsBoom revealed in November, but no move materialised during the January window.

De Zerbi Focused On Survival

The comments which have seen De Zerbi come under fire by the club’s Supporters’ Trust were labelling the former England forward a “good person” and saying “it saddens me what happened to him because I know a very different person from the one portrayed in England”.

The Trust went on to say: “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.”

“We believe these statements, left unchecked, will create a divide among supporters at a time when we all need to be pulling together to back the team. It is concerning that the club would put us in this position right when the team needs fans the most.”

De Zerbi penned a five-year deal at the club as Igor Tudor’s appointment and before thinking about summer signings, his first job is to keep the club in the Premier League.

They are one point above the dreaded drop zone and have failed to win a league game since the turn of the year.

At Marseille, Greenwood has impressed on the pitch with 39 goals in 68 games across Ligue 1 and Champions League football.

It is thought the player is happy to remain in France, away from media spotlight a return to the Premier League would bring.