Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne has revealed why his former manager, Gennaro Gattuso, rebuffed interest from Tottenham.
Spurs have been on the hunt for a new head coach having relieved Jose Mourinho of his duties in mid-April, appointing former player Ryan Mason on an interim basis in the meantime, during which the 30-year-old took charge of the club’s League Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
The club’s makers and shakers have flip-flopped between viable candidates to succeed Mourinho, holding talks with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte, Paulo Fonseca and Gattuso.
However, the dugout remains empty with their latest attempt to lure Gattuso to north London falling flat, and a former player of his at Napoli, Insigne — whom he coached for two years before being sacked in April — detailing why he rejected the club.
Insigne said: “We’ve texted each other, he told me there was a bit of mess, but now I am focused on the Euros, while he’s on holiday so I am not going to ask him such questions.”
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Sevilla president: Julen Lopetegui rejected “dizzying” offer from Spurs
Gattuso has not been the only manager to reject overtures from north London, with Sevilla president Jose Castro recently revealing Julen Lopetegui snubbed the club after Levy put forward a “dizzying” offer.
Castro said: “Julen rang me and told me. He said he’d received offers he’d not listened to in addition to a dizzying one from Tottenham.
“But he said he doesn’t forget things and that he is very motivated here. We believed and believe in him, giving him a two-year contract extension, and I’m sure he will bring much more to the club.
“You see his ability and leadership every day. Some coaches are more driven by economic factors but Julen is very clear that he is happy here and he even said it would be very difficult to find a better place to work than here.”