Gennaro Gattuso is in talks over a move to Saudi Arabia after missing out on the manager’s jobs at Rangers, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.
Long before the appointment of Antonio Conte, Premier League powerhouses Tottenham Hotspur were courting another Italian tactician with a reputation for being, well, let’s say ‘uncompromising’.
It is well documented now, however, that Daniel Levy – Spurs’ long-serving chairman – got cold feet at the eleventh hour, calling off talks with 43-year-old Gattuso after being spooked by the furious reaction that greeted his potential appointment.
That whole Joe Jordan episode didn’t help much either.
“Hate on social media is dangerous and very underrated,” Gattuso would later say, via Goal, insisting that the rather unsavoury comments that left a sour taste in North London mouths had been ‘misrepresented’.
Whatever you think about Gattuso the man, however, Gattuso the manager appears to have a bright future in the game – if he can find a club willing to take a punt on him that is.
The 2006 World Cup winner laid the foundations that Stefano Pioli is now building upon at AC Milan and guided Napoli to the Coppa Italia last season before making way for Luciano Spalletti.
Were Rangers and Tottenham right to avoid Gennaro Gattuso?
Gattuso had been linked with the Newcastle United job before the club’s new Saudi Arabian owners opted for a proven Premier League operator in former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe.
According to the Daily Record, Gattuso would have been tempted by the prospect of replacing Steven Gerrard at Rangers too.
With the well drying up, it is understood that Gattuso could now bid farewell to life in Europe as he looks to get his coaching career back on track.
Talks with Al Nassr, ninth in the Saudi Arabian league despite boasting talent such as Pity Martinez, Vincent Aboubakar and former Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori, are underway.
Gattuso is believed to be the club’s first choice as they look to replace the under-fire Pedro Emmanuel.
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