Dugarry slams De Zerbi’s Tottenham contract: ‘A robbery without a mask’

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Roberto De Zerbi, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Christophe Dugarry has taken aim at Roberto De Zerbi, questioning whether the Italian is equipped for a job of Tottenham’s size and suggesting his contract is a heist.

According to Alfredo Pedullà, the former Milan, Barcelona and Marseille forward made the comments to RMC Sport. “I have never really understood what his level actually is,” Dugarry said. “They tell me he did well at Brighton, Sassuolo and other clubs, but for me he is still not an absolute guarantee for coaching the big teams.”

He then turned to the length of the deal. “He signed a five-year contract. What he has done is a genuine robbery, without even needing to wear a mask. It is incredible.”

De Zerbi still waiting for a first league goal at Tottenham this season

The timing is unhelpful for the Italian. Spurs have taken two points from four Premier League matches and are yet to score, a run now stretching beyond 400 minutes, with back-to-back goalless draws against Nottingham Forest and Everton. The latter ended with the home crowd booing his players off at full-time.

That record sits awkwardly against a summer outlay of roughly €350m, which is the real source of the scrutiny rather than the contract itself.

De Zerbi’s teams have historically needed time to settle, and the ideas that earned him admirers at Sassuolo and Brighton were never quick fixes. But four games without a goal in the league this season buys very little patience anywhere, and none at all at a club that has changed manager as often as Tottenham have.