Former AC Milan and Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is reportedly set to be appointed as the new manager of Valencia, despite supporters recently protesting against his appointment due to controversial views he previously shared.
The LaLiga side have been on the hunt for a new manager after parting ways with Jose Bordalas earlier in the week.
Gattuso, 44, who has been out of a job since leaving Napoli last year, is now set to be appointed as Valencia’s new boss according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, despite a huge uproar on views he shared previously.
Anger from fans stemmed from controversial comments made in Gattuso’s past which have been interpreted as sexist and homophobic.
Romano Tweeted: ‘Official announcement now ready for Gennaro Gattuso as new Valencia manager, all set for the statement this week. Two year deal signed as expected. #Valencia.
‘€3m salary guaranteed plus add-ons per season for Gattuso.’
In 2008, Gattuso, found himself in water when he waded into the topic of same-sex marriage, saying that he believes ‘marriage is between a man and a woman’.
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Fast forward to 2013 and Gattuso found himself accused of sexism when he said he ‘didn’t see women working in football’ following the appointment of Barbara Berlusconi in an executive role at AC Milan.
It was widespread anger at those historic comments that saw Tottenham fans get #NoToGattuso trending in the process of the north London club replacing Jose Mourinho, eventually settling on Nuno Espirito Santo.
Gattuso was sensing that deja vu could prevent him from getting another job and he came to a staunch defence of those aforementioned comments in an interview with Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport on Saturday .