Imminent New Valencia Manager Gennaro Gattuso: 'I'm Racist? Then Why Did I Sign Bakayoko'
Gennaro Gattuso's past comments have resurfaced in light of Valencia fans opposing his impending appointment as their new manager.
Valencia sacked Jose Bordalas as manager on Friday after they finished ninth in La Liga and the club are said to be on the verge of bringing in the enigmatic Gattuso as his replacement on a two-year contract.
The 44-year-old's last managerial job was at Napoli, who he left in 2021 after an 18 month stint.
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He had been named as Fiorentina manager in May 2021 but the two parties mutually terminated the contract before it even started due to disagreements over transfers.
Gennaro Gattuso has signed his contract as new Valencia head coach until June 2024 plus option for further season. 🦇🇮🇹 #Valencia @DiMarzio @SkySport
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 2, 2022
Official statement on Bordalás now matter of hours. ⤵️✅ https://t.co/04jEG5exoU
Not long after, the World Cup winner was in the frame for the Spurs job but monumental backlash from fans led to the North London club opting for Nuno Espirito Santo instead.
The reason was in relation to previous controversial remarks he made. Gattuso would go on to defend himself and explain the comments in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
As per Football Italia, Gattuso said: "My history speaks for itself. I’m racist? I’m homophobic? I’m xenophobic? I’m sexist? Have we gone mad? It’s time to calm down.
“So let’s start explaining, the phrase about women, uttered at the time of Barbara Berlusconi’s entry into football, was meant to be a defence of Galliani’s work, which had been brusquely dismissed.
“I’m racist? Then why did I sign [Tiemoue] Bakayoko when I was at Napoli? I’ve never had anything against Black players, many of whom have been my teammates and friends.
“I built my career with hard work, commitment and sweat. Nobody has given me anything as a gift. And I will no longer allow anyone, with terrible accusations, to hinder my work.”
Gattuso had gone on record to say “marriage is between a man and a woman" in 2008 and was also quoted as saying “didn’t see women working in football” when Barbara Berlusconi became AC Milan CEO.
In response to the Gattuso links, Valencia supporters have been using the hashtag "#NoGattuso" on Twitter.
Former Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares has blasted Gattuso in a YouTube rant, calling him "a son of Jorge Mendes".
"So if he will be the new coach of Valencia, there’s no sporting analysis going on here," Canizares stated.
“Is it right for one agent to control an entire club through his coach? I don’t think this is a good method.”
Super agent Mendes represents Gattuso and it appears as though a vast majority of his suggested signings are his clients.
Josh Lawless