West Ham icon Paolo Di Canio humorously remarked that Roberto De Zerbi should have considered swimming the English Channel to join Tottenham, especially considering the club’s substantial annual expenditure of €250 million.
In a recent interview with Corriere della Sera, the former Italian striker shared his thoughts on De Zerbi’s recent appointment as the head coach of Tottenham. De Zerbi, who previously managed Sassuolo, Brighton, and Marseille, initially hesitated to accept the Spurs’ offer before the 2026-27 season but was ultimately convinced to sign a long-term deal in North London.
Di Canio: De Zerbi ‘can do well’ at Tottenham
Di Canio is confident that his fellow Italian made the right decision in accepting the club’s proposal, despite Tottenham’s current involvement in the Premier League relegation battle.
“Absolutely! He should have swum across the English Channel,” Di Canio stated.
“After yet another tumultuous dismissal, he’s joined a club that spends €250 million annually. He mentioned he would stay even if we were relegated to the Championship, and I believe him. He is demanding and excels at fostering team spirit. He has the potential to succeed there.”
De Zerbi departed from Marseille by mutual consent in February and subsequently signed a five-year contract with Tottenham at the end of March.
During the same interview, Di Canio also commented on the state of Italian football, arguing that Antonio Conte would be a more fitting replacement for Gennaro Gattuso than even Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola.
