Former West Ham star Paolo Di Canio humorously suggested that Roberto De Zerbi should have embarked on an arduous journey, even swimming the English Channel, to join Tottenham. Di Canio’s remark stems from the club’s reported annual expenditure of €250 million.
In an interview with Corriere della Sera, the Italian striker discussed De Zerbi’s recent appointment as Tottenham’s head coach. De Zerbi, who previously managed Sassuolo, Brighton, and Marseille, initially hesitated to accept the offer to lead Spurs for the 2026-27 season but was eventually convinced to sign a long-term deal in North London.
Di Canio: De Zerbi ‘can do well’ at Tottenham
Di Canio firmly believes his fellow Italian made the right decision by accepting Tottenham’s proposal, despite the club’s current struggles in the Premier League relegation battle.
“Absolutely! He should have swum across the English Channel,” Di Canio stated.
“After yet another turbulent dismissal, he’s joined a club that spends €250 million annually. He declared he would stay even if we were relegated to the Championship, and I believe him. He is demanding and adept at fostering team spirit. He can succeed there.”
De Zerbi parted ways with Marseille by mutual consent in February and committed to a five-year contract with Tottenham at the end of March.
During the same interview, Di Canio also shared his views on the state of Italian football, asserting that Antonio Conte would be a more suitable candidate than Pep Guardiola to succeed Gennaro Gattuso.