De Zerbi named Spurs boss as Sarr worry emerges before Sunderland trip | OneFootball

Roberto De Zerbi has been confirmed as Tottenham head coach and faces an immediate concern over Pape Sarr, who did not feature for Senegal against Gambia.

According to Sunderland Echo, De Zerbi signed a five-year deal on Tuesday. Spurs are one point above the Premier League bottom three and visit Sunderland after the latest fixture break.

Sarr linked up with Senegal last week, started Saturday’s 2-0 win over Peru, then was absent from the squad to face Gambia on Tuesday.

Any absence for Sarr would add to an ongoing injury crisis in N17, with Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus already sidelined or unavailable.

De Zerbi’s arrival has also prompted opposition from sections of the fanbase. Three supporters’ groups issued ‘No to De Zerbi’ statements on Friday, citing his previous comments about Marseille forward Mason Greenwood.

Greenwood was charged in October 2022, then the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case in February 2023 after witness withdrawals and new material, saying there was no realistic prospect of conviction. He denied the charges and resumed his career, joining Marseille in 2024.

In November, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a good person who had paid a heavy price and said he was saddened by events, adding he knew a different person to the one described. On Tuesday, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust outlined serious and far-reaching concerns, while Proud Lilywhites and Spurs Reach also expressed discomfort but pledged continued backing for the players.

Source: Sunderland Echo