Brighton CEO and deputy chairman, Paul Barber, has shed light on the conversations he has held with Roberto De Zerbi about Tottenham Hotspur.
It is still early days for De Zerbi at Spurs, and the Italian will be aware that his side has a lot of work to do to remain in the Premier League.
However, the early signs suggest that the 46-year-old is a natural fit for the club, with the fans really taking to the newcomer.
Various Tottenham players have also lavished praise on De Zerbi for restoring confidence and belief in the squad, and the Spurs camp seems to be a happy one for the moment.
Paul Barber reveals Roberto De Zerbi always had a soft spot for Tottenham
Barber, who was the man who took the Italian to Brighton back in 2022, has now revealed that De Zerbi has always been fond of Tottenham due to the club’s history of playing with flair.
The Brighton chief, who previously worked as a general manager at Tottenham, predicted that Spurs fans will really take to the Italian personality and his character.
When asked if De Zerbi spoke to him about the culture at Spurs, the Seagulls CEO told SportsAgentsPod: “Roberto and I talked about Tottenham when we worked together at Brighton, because it was one of the clubs he looked to when he was growing up. For the flair, ‘the game is about the glory’, the Bill Nicholson way.
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“He was very aware, going into Tottenham, not only the size of the club and the expectations, not just on staying up this season, but the way they play, and what the fans expect there. I think he’s a good fit there, he is a fantastic coach, a really good person, an intense character. I think the fans will really respond to his way of coaching the team from the technical area.”
De Zerbi has been given the reins for a long-term project
Both parties evidently see this marriage as a long-term one, with De Zerbi having signed with Spurs until 2031.
Furthermore, reports indicate that the new Tottenham boss has been given plenty of power in the club’s recruitment decisions, as he goes about rebuilding the squad.
However, before he can start planning for the summer, De Zerbi would first have to ensure that the Lilywhites secure their top-flight status.