Tottenham Hotspur were heavily linked with a move for the former Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso earlier this summer.
The 43-year-old was one of the favourites to take over at the London club after his departure from Fiorentina. Still, his move to the Premier League collapsed because of social media protests from the fans.
Gattuso has now revealed that the collapse of his appointment hurt him more than any defeat.
When the former AC Milan midfielder was linked with the Tottenham job, the fans started protests on social media with the hashtag “No to Gattuso”.
The protests were based on the controversial comments made by the former Italian international regarding women in football, same-sex marriage and racism.
Furthermore, the way he left Fiorentina owing to disagreements regarding transfers was also a red flag for the Tottenham fans.
The deal to take Gattuso to Tottenham was more or less done, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy pulled the plug on the deal after the social media campaign.
Gattuso has hit out at the malicious comments directed towards him on social media, and he revealed that he prefers to stay away from platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
He said: “It was a huge disappointment, but I wasn’t described for the way I am, and there was nothing I could do. I am sorry I could not defend myself and explain that I am not the person they were talking about in England.
“I had to accept a story that hurts more than any defeat or dismissal, in a moment when we don’t want to understand how dangerous the web can be.
“Certain malice comes from Facebook or Twitter, where it is possible to give strength to any falsehood. I don’t have social media profiles, and I don’t want them, neither has [my wife] Monica.”
