De Zerbi prepared for Tottenham relegation, Fabrizio Romano reveals

Robin Bairner

1 Apr 2026 07:45 BST
3 min read

Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Roberto De Zerbi is Tottenham’s new manager, and the Italian is approaching the club’s relegation battle with a sense of realism having already prepared a Plan B should Spurs suffer Premier League relegation, Fabrizio Romano says.

Article continues under the video

De Zerbi has signed a five-year contract with the North London side, keeping him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until 2031.

And if that means suffering relegation to bounce back up from the Championship, that is something that the former Brighton and Marseille manager is happy with.

De Zerbi will ‘fight and rebuild’ in the Championship

With Spurs yet to win a league match in 2026, Romano has revealed that the 46-year-old is prepared for relegation.

Romano explained: “Everything is agreed and confirmed. He takes the job immediately and has committed until June 2031, so a very long contract.

“There is no relegation exit clause. From what I am told, 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.

“Of course, the main mission is to stay in the Premier League, then start a fresh new project next season. He will be among the top three best paid managers. in the league. A huge move, full commitment, and a new era starting at Tottenham. Good luck to Roberto De Zerbi.”

© IMAGO - Roberto De Zerbi during his time at Marseille

What’s next for De Zerbi?

De Zerbi’s first task as Tottenham manager will be an away trip to face Sunderland on Sunday, with the new manager needing to hit the ground running.

Spurs currently lie 17th in the Premier League standings with 30 points. They are just one point better off than West Ham but are also within striking distance of Leeds and Nottingham Forest in what promises to be a thrilling relegation battle.

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:

•Google Play

•App Store