Bottom of the Premier League, no wins in five, minus six on goal difference, and no cheap way out. That is where Tottenham sit five games into a season they were meant to redefine, and the awkward part for the board is that firing Roberto De Zerbi has become the more expensive option.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed at the weekend that the hierarchy is not exploring a change.
“The message from Tottenham, as of today, remains a message of confidence in Roberto De Zerbi,” Romano said, adding that the club “knew it was going to take time” after finishing 17th last season and surviving relegation on the final day.
“It’s not a switch you make from 17th in the league, saving from relegation in the final game of the season, to Champions League spots just because you spend big money,” he added.
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Signed until 2031, no relegation escape
The financial architecture of the appointment explains much of that patience. When De Zerbi took the job on 31 March, Tottenham handed him a deal Romano described as running until June 2031, placing him among the three best paid managers in the league. The contract contains no relegation exit provision for either side.
“There is no relegation exit clause,” Romano said in April.
“De Zerbi explained very clearly to the Tottenham board and players that he is fully committed to the project. If Tottenham were to go down to the Championship, he is ready to stay, fight, and rebuild.”
The £20m bill to buy him out
Ending the relationship early would therefore fall back on ordinary termination terms. Football finance analyst Stefan Borson estimated the total cost of a managerial change at around £20m.
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“Most of these managers receive a six-to-12-month termination,” Borson said. “So £10m plus £10m to bring somebody new in.”
That bill sits on top of a summer outlay Tottenham have already committed to De Zerbi’s tactical model, a rebuild running to more than £300m on new signings.
The investment in the project is the second reason nobody has moved. Football Insider correspondent Mick Brown said in comments published this week that the board has already picked its side.
“Tottenham have made their decision about Roberto De Zerbi already,” Brown said. “They made a financial commitment to him during the summer transfer window with all the money they spent on new players, and they hope he can get the best out of them.”
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Brown added the obvious caveat.
“It’s about how long it goes on for, really, because we know in football that no manager can survive long runs without a win regardless of whether the club want to pull the trigger or not.”
The next chance to change the run comes at Old Trafford after the international break, with a trip to Manchester United.
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