Tottenham Hotspur are once again being dragged into criticism of Fabio Paratici. Italian journalist Paolo Bargiggia has publicly attacked the director over what he describes as a trail of transfer failures.
As relayed by Fiorentina insider outlet Labaro Viola, Bargiggia did not hold back when assessing Paratici’s recent record. Referring to his spells at Juventus, Tottenham and now Fiorentina, he suggested a pattern of decline rather than progress.
He wrote: “First, they said he contributed to the final troubles at Juventus, then he took Tottenham close to the relegation zone, and now even Fiorentina are at risk. A €40m market with the buy-back options is working exactly the opposite way!”
The remarks came after Fiorentina’s heavy 3-0 defeat to Udinese, which intensified scrutiny around Paratici’s early decisions at the Serie A club.
The Florence club is now 16th place in the league, with the same 24 points as 18th placed Lecce – the first side inside the relegation zone.
Tottenham spell still under spotlight
Tottenham supporters will not need reminding that Paratici’s time in north London ended under a cloud. The Italian executive first left his post following a FIFA-wide ban related to financial irregularities during his Juventus tenure.
Before that, however, his transfer strategy at Spurs divided opinion. While deals such as Cristian Romero proved successful, others were heavily criticised for cost and limited impact.
Bargiggia’s claim that Paratici “took Tottenham close to the relegation zone” is a direct hit at the club’s recent periods of instability, including managerial churn and inconsistent league form.
Even as his responsibilities were lately shared with Johan Lange, the turbulent months Spurs are now living surely shape how some in Italy interpret his English spell.
Loan-heavy strategy under scrutiny
Notably, Fiorentina did not complete a single permanent signing in the January window. Instead, Paratici structured arrivals as loans with purchase options or obligations attached.
In Italy, that model often attracts criticism when results dip. The structure can protect short-term cash flow. However, it also creates deferred exposure if the options are triggered. Bargiggia’s wording suggests he believes that mechanism is already backfiring.
Tottenham supporters will recognise the pattern. During Paratici’s time in north London, Spurs frequently relied on structured deals, staggered payments and conditional obligations.
In the end, his reputational association with Tottenham endures. Although Paratici is no longer at the club, his period in north London remains a reference point whenever debate about his record resurfaces in Italy.
Whether fair or exaggerated, Tottenham continue to be cited whenever the Italian director’s track record is questioned. That link, it seems, is not disappearing anytime soon.
