Tottenham hit by Pape Sarr worry before Sunderland trip as Roberto De Zerbi confirmed | OneFootball

Roberto De Zerbi faces an early fitness worry at Tottenham after Pape Sarr missed Senegal’s friendly against Gambia.

According to Sunderland Echo, De Zerbi was confirmed on Tuesday on a five-year deal, and Spurs visit Sunderland after the Premier League break.

With seven games left, Tottenham sit one point above the bottom three and are winless in the league in 2026.

Sarr joined Senegal last week and played in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Peru, then was omitted from the squad to face Gambia on Tuesday.

His absence adds to a lengthy list that includes Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus.

De Zerbi’s appointment has drawn opposition from parts of the fanbase, with three groups issuing ‘No to De Zerbi’ statements on Friday over his past comments about Marseille forward Mason Greenwood.

Greenwood was charged in October 2022 after images and videos appeared online, then the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew and new material emerged, saying there was no realistic prospect of conviction. He denied the charges and later joined Marseille in 2024.

In November, De Zerbi called Greenwood a good person who had paid a heavy price, and said he was saddened by events. Fan groups including Proud Lilywhites and Spurs Reach voiced discomfort with the appointment while pledging continued support for the team and community.

Source: Sunderland Echo