Tottenham's Stance on Mason Greenwood: A New Era Under De Zerbi

Tottenham’s new era under Roberto De Zerbi has begun with sharp decisions and even sharper lines in the sand. One of the clearest so far: Mason Greenwood will not be part of it.

Club sources indicate Tottenham Hotspur have no interest in signing the 24-year-old forward from Olympique de Marseille, despite recent links suggesting a possible Premier League return. For all the noise around Greenwood’s future, Spurs are not at the table.

It’s a stance loaded with context.

Greenwood’s Marseille resurgence

On the pitch, Greenwood’s numbers in France last season were striking. Under De Zerbi at Marseille, he played 32 times in all competitions, scoring 22 goals and supplying eight assists. The former Manchester United academy product rediscovered his edge, his left foot once again a weapon that decided games.

After De Zerbi’s departure from the Orange Vélodrome, Greenwood featured 13 more times, adding four goals and three assists. By the end of the campaign he had 45 appearances, 26 goals, 11 assists and a contract running until June 2029. From a purely footballing perspective, it is the profile that usually attracts Premier League clubs.

But this is not a purely footballing story.

De Zerbi, Greenwood and the backlash

De Zerbi’s previous comments about Greenwood have already shaped the atmosphere around his arrival in north London. The Italian had publicly described Greenwood as a “good guy” who had paid a “heavy price” after criminal charges against the forward – including attempted rape and assault – were dropped in February 2023.

“I don't want to get involved in anyone's private life,” De Zerbi said at the time. “All I can see is that Mason seems a good lad; he paid in a strong way for what happened. He has probably here found the right environment for him, which gave him affection, and held out its hand to him.

“When I look at him as a person, I feel sad for what happened in his life, without getting into the details. Because the person I know here is very different to the one that has been described, especially in England.”

Those words travelled quickly once De Zerbi emerged as the leading candidate for the Spurs job. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust responded with a strongly worded statement, outlining “serious and far-reaching concerns” over his appointment and making clear the strength of feeling among fans.

The club pressed ahead. De Zerbi signed a five-year contract and walked into a job already carrying a moral as well as tactical spotlight.

A public apology and a line drawn

De Zerbi moved to address the issue in his first interview with club media. He did not try to brush it away.

“I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women or violence against anyone more broadly,” he said. “In my life, I have always stood up for who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I have consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are more at risk.

“Those of you who know me well will know I'm not the type of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title. I apologise to those who I offended with this subject matter.

“I have a daughter, and I'm very sensitive to these things and always have been. I hope that over time, people will get to know me better and will understand that in that moment, I didn't mean to take a stance.”

The theme continued when he faced reporters ahead of his first game in charge.

“I was a bit sad and sorry it happened because I'm sorry if somebody took offence,” he said. “I must repeat what I said. This topic is very close to me. I'm very sensitive about this topic because of the person I am and because I have a daughter.

“And so I must repeat what I said the other time. I have always been against – always – any type of violence, especially against women. But not only violence, even just sexist jokes or other sexist behaviours.

“I have a daughter, and I'm directly affected by it. I know who I am. I know the type of person I am, so I wasn't annoyed by the questions – I'm just sad about them.”

Against that backdrop, the club’s position on Greenwood is not just a transfer call. It is a statement of alignment between manager, board and fanbase at the start of a new cycle.

Spurs’ rebuild, without Greenwood

Tottenham’s summer has started with purpose. De Zerbi has been tasked with building an attacking, front-foot side and reshaping a squad that has already shown promise. The early window work has been described around the club as the foundation for “an exciting new era”.

Greenwood’s name inevitably surfaced as soon as De Zerbi’s did. The numbers in Marseille, the existing relationship, the need for goals in any top-six project – it all made for an easy link.

But the answer from Spurs is clear: no deal, no pursuit, no interest.

For De Zerbi, that means his Tottenham rebuild will be judged on different forwards, different signings, and a different kind of risk. The football revolution he promises in north London will go ahead without the most contentious name attached to his recent past.