United's De Zerbi Snub Spares Them Fresh Greenwood Storm as Italian Opts for Spurs

Manchester United have seemingly sidestepped another Mason Greenwood public relations minefield after Roberto De Zerbi's pre-Tottenham soundings at Old Trafford were firmly rejected by the club's hierarchy.

De Zerbi's five-year appointment at Spurs has drawn considerable ire in certain quarters, particularly given his previous remarks championing Greenwood following the former United academy prospect's 2024 summer move to Marseille. The Italian's willingness to publicly defend the English winger has created a significant headache for Tottenham.

Greenwood faced charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning bodily harm in 2022, all of which he contested. The allegations were ultimately withdrawn in February 2023.

Upon Greenwood's relocation to Ligue 1, where he subsequently impressed, De Zerbi characterised him as a "good guy" bearing the weight of having "paid a heavy price", whilst implying the player had himself been wronged by the allegations.

The comments prompted sharp criticism from Women of the Lane, a group dedicated to combating sexism and misogyny in football, who questioned De Zerbi's judgment and fitness for leadership. Fellow Spurs supporters' organisation Proud Lilywhites, representing the club's LGBTQ+ fanbase, launched a formal campaign against his appointment, arguing that his public backing of Greenwood—and the manner in which he downplayed the severity of the case—carried troubling implications beyond the individual instance.

In his inaugural interview as Spurs manager, conducted in Italian rather than English, De Zerbi offered a partial retreat from his earlier stance. "I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women or violence against anyone more broadly," he stated. "In my life I've always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I've consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk.

"Those of you who know me well will know that I'm not the kind of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title. I have a daughter and I'm very sensitive to these things, and I always have been. I hope that over time people will get to know me better and will understand that at that moment I didn't mean to take a stance."

United had themselves navigated treacherous waters regarding Greenwood. The club tested sentiment about reintegrating him into first-team action following the charge dismissal, subsequently loaning him to Getafe in summer 2023 before eventually accepting Marseille's £26.6 million offer twelve months later.

That cautious approach appears to have informed the club's recent handling of De Zerbi. Transfer correspondent Alex Crook revealed that INEOS decision-makers have chosen to maintain distance from further Greenwood-related entanglements, declining De Zerbi's exploratory enquiries about joining United prior to his Tottenham switch.

"Speaking to people in Italy this morning," Crook explained on talkSPORT, "they were telling me that Roberto De Zerbi—before taking the Tottenham job—sounded out Manchester United and was told he wasn't in the reckoning there."