De Zerbi was told ‘he wasn’t in the reckoning’ by Premier League giants before landing Tottenham job

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Gerrard Crispin | Last updated Apr 5, 2026 9:36 AM ET

Roberto De Zerbi took over the reins at Tottenham on the 31st of March, 2026.

It has been reported that Roberto De Zerbi tried his best to join Manchester United, in what is being said as a failed bid.

It’s been almost a week since Roberto De Zerbi was appointed as Tottenham’s head coach. The 46-year-old Italian arrived after former interim boss Igor Tudor was sacked in just 44 days, as the Croatian managed just 1 point out of a possible 15 in the Premier League.

Elsewhere, De Zerbi parted ways with his former employers, Marseille, in February. He had long been linked with a return to the Premier League, with Manchester United and Tottenham being probable clubs he could have landed at.

Prior to his Marseille stint, De Zerbi had a successful tenure with Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League. In the two seasons he managed ‘The Seagulls’, De Zerbi took them to their best-ever finish in the Premier League, and also helped the club qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

What happened between Manchester United and De Zerbi?

TalkSport’s Alex Crook has now stated that Roberto De Zerbi’s advances to join Manchester United was rejected by the Red Devils.

Alex Crook reports that Roberto De Zerbi had scouted interest from Manchester United for the managerial role! pic.twitter.com/KnQ3wSe5Ab
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 3, 2026

Crook said, “Speaking to people in Italy this morning, Jamie. They were telling me that Roberto De Zerbi, before taking the Tottenham job, sounded out Manchester United and was told he wasn’t in the reckoning there.”

Besides the club’s unreal status, De Zerbi’s attempt to land a job at Manchester United could have been triggered by the fact that they do not have a full-time manager yet.

Michael Carrick, who took over after Ruben Amorim was sacked, is only an interim manager. And despite his impressive record since becoming the boss, there haven’t been concrete reports that he will be made the permanent manager soon or in the next season.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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